Schroder supplied 25 points (8-17 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), six rebounds and four assists across 38 minutes during Saturday's 115-110 victory over the Heat.
Miller accumulated 34 points (10-29 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 11-12 FT), seven rebounds, four assists and one block across 36 minutes during Saturday's 115-110 win over the Heat.
Reid notched 23 points (9-16 FG, 5-8 3Pt), nine rebounds and two blocks in 37 minutes during Saturday's 115-110 win over Miami.
Anderson (ankle) is available for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Knueppel (hamstring) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Heat.
White (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Miami.
Anderson (ankle) is probable for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Banchero is expected to be sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks due to a right high-ankle sprain, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Diabate registered five points (2-2 FG, 0-0 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block across 21 minutes in Friday's 128-81 loss to the Hawks.
DraftKings. After a banner rookie year, Kon Knueppel slowed down the stretch, staying under this line in 10 of his last 13 games. In Tuesday’s play-in game, Knueppel was a distant fifth on the Hornets in touch time and front court touches per possession. I expect that trend to continue tonight, against a Magic defense that was number three in terms of limiting catch and shot opportunities, and second in assists per field goals made. Knueppel, of the five Hornets main scorers, is the most reliant on the assist. And since the Coby White trade, the Duke product is under this line in 11/14 games in which LaMelo Ball shoots at least 18 times - a very conservative floor for the enigmatic point guard.
This is a good matchup for Hornets forward Brandon Miller, who had 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds in his most recent game against the Magic (March 19). He got in foul trouble in the OT play-in win over Miami but still finished with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. Look for close to 40 minutes Friday and another productive all-around game from the former No. 2 overall pick.
Miles Bridges has hit his rebounds prop in five of last six games, averaging 7.3 rebounds per game over this stretch. The one miss was vs the Knicks, in a game he played just 24 minutes. In the play-in game vs. Miami on Tuesday, he had 9 rebounds, playing 44 minutes. He should see minutes tonight in another win or go home game. On the season, he is grabbing 6.4 RPG when playing 30+ minutes, hitting over 5.5 58% of the time. He faces an Orlando team that has allowed 10+ rebounds per game to forwards over the last 7 games. Bridges has hit this in 2/ 4 games vs the Magic this season, including both games in Orlando, averaging 6.8 RPG vs. them.
Desmond Bane was the lone bright spot for the Magic in their loss to the 76ers on Wednesday. He shot 10-for-16 from the field on his way to scoring 34 points. After playing 40 minutes in that game, he should play a lot Friday as the Magic try to avoid elimination. This game being in Orlando is a boost for his scoring upside because he averaged 21.3 points per game at home, versus 18.8 points a night on the road. I like his chances of coming away from this matchup with at least 20 points.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero is one of the top-five most disappointing NBA guys of the season. Solid year, but the ex-No. 1 overall pick was supposed to take a leap and went a bit backward. I think Paolo has a statement game. And to me it feels like the Hornets just sherpa-ed (verb?) Mount Everest and nowhere to go but down after an utterly wild win over Miami. That was entertaining. Love to see the Bugs move on, they are fun to watch. Although LaMelo Ball's tatts looks like drawn by a drunken Monet (or Manet, I always get confused).
