With a freshly displayed No. 30 banner hanging in the rafters of Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets (36-34) picked up significant ground in the heavily contested Eastern Conference playoff race Thursday.
On a night where the 1994 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Dell Curry, was honored by the organization with which he’s become synonymous, the Hornets’ current sixth man, Coby White, fittingly provided a first-half spark against the Orlando Magic (38-31), ultimately leading to a 130-111 home win.
“I think it’s dope — big-time win for sure, but on a night where a guy gets honored to that high of a status,” White said. “Anybody who gets their jersey retired in the NBA is a hell of a player, so for us, we just wanted to end the night with a ‘W’ for him, for the most part, and continue to honor him that way, too.”
The Hornets’ victory over the visiting Magic resulted in a two-game swing between the two teams in the playoff standings. While the Magic still remain in the sixth seed, the Hornets have cut the distance between the two squads to 2.5 games with 12 remaining on the schedule.
Charlotte, firmly entrenched as the 10th seed in the East, remain within striking distance of the ninth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers will face the Hornets in Charlotte on March 28.
Coby White’s sixth-man celebration in front of Dell Curry
White, who entered the game in the first quarter with the Hornets trailing by three, quickly guided a 16-11 run to conclude the period. During three consecutive possessions, White created points for himself and his teammates. He softly guided a layup into the basket before hitting a bull’s-eye 3-pointer on the next possession. He then zipped a pass to backup center Ryan Kalkbrenner for a driving layup.
Kalkbrenner was fouled on the play and added another point to the scoreboard with a free throw.
“He’s just got such a great feel, and he’s getting used to his teammates,” coach Charles Lee said about White after the win. “Their screening angles. And where he’s getting the ball a little bit more. What lineups he’s out there with. And I think he put it perfectly after one of the last games: He’s just gotta be himself at the end of the day.”
Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White holds his release on a free throw during Thursday’s action against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
White would return to the bench with the Hornets surging in the second quarter. But the trade-deadline acquisition wouldn’t be sidelined for too long, as he returned with 5:45 left in the half. He immediately attacked the basket with a layup and then a 3-point make on back-to-back possessions.
By the time the Hornets were ready to cement Curry’s legacy at the half, White had collected a team-leading 15 points and five assists. He had played just 13:36 in the first two quarters.
“I didn’t even notice it — I just be out there hooping,” White said about the early turnaround. “I just want to come in and impact the game, try to play with a little pace. It just worked out that we got some good shots to go and kind of made a run.”
“It’s always a team effort,” White continued. “I don’t look at it as ‘when I came in,’ I just think the crew that was out on the floor just started clicking, we got it rolling and made some big plays to take the lead.”
Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White takes a 3-point shot attempt during Thursday’s action against the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
White finished with 27 points in the 19-point win.
With sharpshooting rookie forward Kon Knueppel and standout point guard LaMelo Bell battling foul trouble for the most of the first half, White’s energy, efficiency and scoring prowess kept Charlotte pushing forward on offense. The Hornets then ran away with the game in the third quarter as they piled on points.
“I appreciate his humility in wanting to kind of fit in, but he’s a heck of a player, and he’s gotta be himself,” Lee added. “And I think the guys encouraged him and continue to do that too, and be aggressive. He’s another guy who can just generate more offense, get the offense flowing.
“He helps us get to the free throw line because he understands how to use his body, and when he feels contact he starts to get into his shot. But the passing has been really good, too. So I’m really proud of Coby’s growth and evolution since he’s been here.”
Moussa Diabate: The talent behind the turnaround
Hornets big man Moussa Diabate started his 36th game of the season against the Magic. It was the team’s 24th win of the season with Diabate in the starting lineup.
Diabate, who didn’t become a regular starter for Charlotte until January, finished the game with three points, five rebounds, an assist and a block in 24:29.
While that stat line won’t stick out on a box score, the 24-year-old center from Paris has been a key part of the Hornets’ mid-season turnaround.
Charlotte’s success has largely come with him playing the bulk of the minutes in the frontcourt. The team has a 12-22 record when Diabate isn’t part of the starting five.
So, why has he been such an important cog for Charlotte? Lee has a few ideas.
“Just his overall energy and competitiveness,” Lee said prior to win the over the Magic. “And then I think the third thing would just be his unselfishness. He does whatever he can do to help impact winning.”
Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate, left, looks to block a shot by Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain during Thursday’s action at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Diabate, listed as 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds, does the dirty work for the Hornets’ featured lineup. He affects both ends of the floor, and he doesn’t even need to touch the ball.
“Defensively, his versatility to be able to be in center field but also to switch and be a guy that’s super active and willing to give of himself and his body, at all times, to help us protect the paint and keep the ball in front,” Lee said. “And then offensively, his screening continues to improve. I think that his seam reads and willingness to make the right passes are huge. And then he’s a monster on the offensive glass. And when he comes up with it, he has the ability to score, but then he’s also looking for his teammates to kick out and get some dagger threes.”
Kon Knueppel keeps adding to his rookie record
Knueppel went 4 of 9 from 3-point range against Orlando. The fourth overall pick from Duke has now hit 242 3-pointers on the season, expanding his impressive rookie record well beyond the initial 209 mark from Feb. 27 in Indiana.
Knueppel finished with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting 45.4% from the field. Ball collected 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in just over 20 minutes of play.
“I thought that our guys did a good job of sticking with it, because give Orlando credit, they’re a really good team, well-coached, and they came out and shot the ball well,” Lee said.
Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, left, fights for control of a rebound with the Orlando Magic’s Jamal Cain during Thursday’s action at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Brandon Miller put up 25 points on 53.8% shooting. He also contributed three rebounds and eight assists in the victory.
The Magic were led by guard Desmond Bane, who compiled 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Forward Paolo Banchero added 20 points, three rebounds and seven assists.
Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller celebrates with the fans after Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley received two technicals and an ejection from Thursday’s game at Spectrum Center. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 11:14 PM.
The Charlotte Observer
Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription