How Charlotte made franchise history before starting a game against the Magic

Charlotte The Hornets made unique history to start their match against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

Charlotte entered the game with a score of 2-2. They won against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards while losing to the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.

This respectable start is thanks to a young core of talented players. LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton boast experience at the cornerback position, but Conn Knuepel, Zion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner all had moments to start their early careers.

That’s why it was significant when the trio of Knueppel, James and Kalkbrenner started in the same game. The Hornets revealed that this is a new feat in franchise historymarking the first time they featured three rookies in the starting lineup.

How the Hornets played against the Magic

Despite the unique feat accomplished by the rookies, the Hornets were unable to translate it into a victory as they lost to the Magic 123-107.

Orlando struck first, taking a 38-31 lead after the first quarter. They extended their lead to 13 at halftime, and although Charlotte cut it to seven after the third period, they were unable to keep up with their opponents down the stretch.

Perimeter shooting and turnovers made the difference in this matchup. The Magic were more efficient as they made 16 3-pointers while limiting their turnovers to 13. It wasn’t the same for the Hornets, who made 11 3-pointers but turned the ball over 21 times.

Five players scored in double figures for Charlotte. Colin Sexton led the way with 19 points, four assists and two rebounds off the bench. He shot 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. LaMelo Ball followed with 17 points and 13 assists, Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Miles Bridges had 16 points and five rebounds. Meanwhile, Moussa Diabate contributed 10 points and six rebounds.

The Hornets will look to bounce back in their next match, staying at home. They host the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 1st at 6pm ET.