When LaMelo's shooting cooled down in the second half, the game slipped away entirely. Orlando continued to build on their already sizeable lead in the closing minutes, as point differential can be crucial to advance out of the NBA Cup group stage. If you want to learn more about how the in-season tournament works, you can do so HERE.

Charlotte has a little work to do if it plans on having any shot at a December trip to Las Vegas, site of the tournament’s championship game for the second straight year. A 114-89 loss to the Magic in a East Group A matchup at Kia Center means the Hornets will have to dig out of a hole to advance out of pool play.

The Boston Celtics fell to the Atlanta Hawks 117-116 Wednesday night at TD Garden. This was the first game for Boston in the 2024 NBA Cup. Boston will play four total games during Group Play of the tournament,

To find out more about how the NBA Cup works, click HERE It's hard to measure the Magic's and Hornets' progress up to this point, as their records don't tell the whole story. Orlando has won five of eleven games but lost two crucial frontcourt pieces,