Top Stories Live Updates: Hornets vs. Magic | Dell Curry's Jersey Retirement
Check out all the best news, notes, highlights and observations from an eight-game Thursday night in the NBA.
Ben Lambert, for NBA.com
Updated on March 20, 2026 1:19 AM
Evan Mobley and the Cavaliers are facing the Bulls in Chicago on League Pass. Recap the best of Thursday’s slate with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
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What we know about Thursday night’s games: Dell Curry’s No. 30 jersey will be retired in Charlotte tonight, as the Hornets host the Magic on NBA TV (7 ET). The schedule also features Lakers-Heat (8 ET) and Suns-Spurs (8 ET) on League Pass.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 9:18 ET Say it with me now: LeBron James
LeBron is sizzling from the field 🔥
Last night: 30 PTS (13-14 FGM)
Tonight: 11 PTS (5-5 FGM)
pic.twitter.com/Zh2awoSjdg — NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
The Heat are up 65-59 at the half, though.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:52 ET Rasheer to the rack
The St. Joseph’s product just took flight for the Suns, who lead the Spurs 47-44 with 4:48 to go in the second quarter. A 74.1 on the Dunk Score scale!
🚨 RASHEER FLEMING POSTER 🚨
pic.twitter.com/qJ0wNACld8 — Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:35 ET Hornets up big at the half
On the night they celebrate franchise legend Dell Curry, the Hornets have their shooting touch. They’re up 72-53 at the half on the Magic, knocking down 56.5% of their shots from the field, including nine 3-pointers. Coby White — former Mr. Basketball in North Carolina and Tar Heel legend — leads the Hornets with 19 points.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 8:32 ET Only one LeBron
The King abides. 1,611 NBA games and still going strong.
"He's competing against Father Time, and he's giving Father Time hell." Coach Erik Spoelstra on LeBron tying Robert Parish tonight for most games played in NBA history 👏
pic.twitter.com/ZvTIaTCZeb — NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 7:50 ET Ausar aloft
One of the best defenders in the NBA at work. He’s ninth in the Association with 2.7 stocks per game — 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks.
Ausar Thompson with a roaring rejection 🚫 Smacked it off the backboard!
pic.twitter.com/V9bplqb30E — NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2026
MARCH 19, 2026 // 7:19 ET Magic up early, but Hornets rallying
Desmond Bane (9 pts on 3-of-3 shooting) is leading the way for the Magic, who have a 19-15 lead with 6:37 to go in the first quarter. But the Hornets just forced a timeout with a LaMelo Ball (11 pts) fast break slam. The national TV spotlight is on these squads tonight — catch the contest on NBA TV and League Pass.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 5:45 ET Dell Curry’s jersey to be raised to the rafters
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner has a look at Hornets legend Dell Curry for you before his jersey is retired for all time at the Spectrum Center tonight.
“He played for Charlotte longer than anyone else and better than most. Curry retired as the franchise’s leader in games (701), points (9,839), field goals (3,951) and 3-pointers made (929). Kemba Walker eventually passed him in points, buckets and 3-pointers. Still, Curry ranks in the team’s Top 10 in 10 categories, including steals (fourth) and assists (10th).
Before his son Stephen made 3-point shooting his brand with Golden State, Dell Curry put the family name on it as one of the NBA’s sharpest of shooters. He was the only player in the 1990s, for instance, to shoot better than 40% from the arc in seven consecutive seasons. More than a marksman, he was also a super sub, finishing seventh or higher in balloting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for five straight years. Curry won it in 1993-94, when he helped Charlotte to its second .500 finish by playing all 82 games off the bench. At 29, he set career highs in appearances, shots, field goals, assists and scoring (16.3 ppg).
Curry, at 34, spent the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, hitting a career-best 47.6% of his 3-pointers. Then he wrapped up with three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, for whom he played 19 of his 51 playoff games. He retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in bench scoring (11,147), and he still ranks third, trailing only Lou Williams (13,396) and Jamal Crawford (11,279).”
Check out the piece for thoughts from Dell, Stephen and Seth Curry on his career and this historic night.
MARCH 19, 2026 // 5:15 ET Welcome to an eight-game night in the NBA!
Kon Knueppel’s Hornets are facing Paolo Banchero and the Magic on NBA TV tonight.
Our slate tonight is highlighted by Magic-Hornets on NBA TV, as Charlotte celebrates the retirement of team legend Dell Curry’s No. 30 jersey. The Hornets lead the season series 2-1, having taken the last two contests — 120-105 on Dec. 26 and 124-97 on Jan. 22 — after the Magic had beaten them five straight times dating back to the 2024-25 season.
Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:
Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Hornets, 7 ET (NBA TV)
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards, 7 ET
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat, 8 ET
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 ET
LA Clippers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8 ET
Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8 ET
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Utah Jazz, 9 ET
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, 10 ET
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