Hornets, Magic continue search for defensive solutions

The visiting Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets might need to crank up their offenses in large ways when they meet Thursday night.

Or do something about their defenses.

Both teams are fresh off lopsided losses, largely because they gave up too many points.

The Hornets were demolished in Miami when the Heat rolled up a 144-117 victory on Tuesday.

Then the Magic suffered a 135-116 loss to the host Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to sit down and guard,” said Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley, whose team has lost four consecutive games since winning its opener.

The Magic clearly are in an adjusting phase.

“Everybody’s trying to sprinkle in different guys, what works with your starters, when you take a guy out, the timing of it,” Mosley said.

The Hornets have lots to fix, with the Magic presenting specific challenges.

“(Orlando) is a big, physical team that’s struggling a little bit defensively right now,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “But they have a great presence to them, and great size. We have to be ready for that level of physicality.”

Orlando’s defensive woes can be, in part, connected to fouling too much. The Pistons made 30 of 34 free throws against the Magic, who are 0-2 to start their first road trip of the season. That came just two nights after the Philadelphia 76ers shot 32 free throws in a 136-124 victory over Orlando.

There has been headway on offense for the Hornets.

Charlotte guard Kon Knueppel is the first player in NBA history with five or more 3-point baskets in two of his first four career games. He has 16 successful treys, also the most to begin a career through four games.

“You’re able to shoot a good percentage when you shoot the shots you should shoot,” Lee said.

Knueppel drained 5 of 11 attempts from 3-point range at Miami.

“When we have the ball moving and my teammates put me in really good positions, a lot of credit to them,” Knueppel said.

One of Knueppel’s former Duke teammates, Sion James, also has provided the Hornets with a boost during his rookie season. That has shown up at both ends of the court, as he is averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 steals in 19.8 minutes per game. James leads the NBA in 3-point percentage at 77.8% (7 of 9).

“Defensively, we always knew (James) could bring an edge and physicality,” Lee said. “Offensively, he’s done a great job of being an offensive connector.”

Paolo Banchero, another former Duke player, has led the Magic in scoring in four of their first five games. He had the team’s top numbers in points (24), rebounds (11) and assists (seven) on Wednesday. The assist total was the best for any Orlando player in a game this season.

There hasn’t been much practice time as Orlando, which is heading into its third game in four nights while playing on back-to-back nights for the second time this season. So there might not be reason for a major panic.

“Right now, it’s a very small sample size,” Mosley said.

Charlotte returned home from a 1-2 road trip without the services of swingman Brandon Miller, who has missed back-to-back games due to a left shoulder injury. He did some on-court work during practice on Wednesday but won’t return to action on Thursday.

“No timetable for Brandon right now,” Lee said. “We’re just kind of evaluating day-to-day, … but I think that he’s making good progress.”