KJ Simpson

Simpson will remain sidelined, but with the guards ahead of him in the rotation all healthy, he likely wouldn't have seen the floor even if he was able. This will be a third straight absence for him.

Washington Wizards (10-33, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (17-28, 12th in the Eastern Conference)Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 6 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Charlotte looking to stop its five-game road losing streak.The Hornets are 5-4 against Southeast Division teams. Charlotte averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 6-8 when it wins the turnover battle.The Wizards are 2-4 in division matchups. Washington ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Marvin Bagley III averaging 2.6.The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points lower than the 47.5% the Wizards allow to opponents. The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.8% lower than the 47.7% the Hornets' opponents have shot this season.The teams play for the third time this season. The Hornets won the last meeting 126-109 on Dec. 24, with LaMelo Ball scoring 23 points in the win.TOP PERFORMERS: Kon Knueppel is shooting 48.2% and averaging 19.0 points for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 18.6 points over the last 10 games.Alex Sarr is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 7.4 rebounds for the Wizards. Bub Carrington is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 5-5, averaging 116.3 points, 49.1 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.1 points per game.Wizards: 1-9, averaging 108.3 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points.INJURIES: Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), Tre Mann: out (illness), Grant Williams: out (knee), KJ Simpson: out (hip).Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic: out (knee), Bilal Coulibaly: out (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: out (quad), Marvin Bagley III: out (illness).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (16-28, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (23-19, seventh in the Eastern Conference)Orlando, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. ESTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -6.5; over/under is 229.5BOTTOM LINE: Desmond Bane and the Orlando Magic host Miles Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets in Eastern Conference play.The Magic are 5-4 against Southeast Division teams. Orlando is third in the Eastern Conference with 54.4 points per game in the paint led by Franz Wagner averaging 11.4.The Hornets have gone 11-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Charlotte is eighth in the NBA with 33.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Bridges averaging 5.2.The Magic are shooting 46.6% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points lower than the 47.8% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets average 15.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.2 more made shots on average than the 11.9 per game the Magic allow.The teams meet for the third time this season. The Hornets won 120-105 in the last matchup on Dec. 27.TOP PERFORMERS: Bane is averaging 18.9 points and 4.5 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists over the past 10 games.Bridges is averaging 18.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 18.8 points over the past 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 112.9 points, 45.3 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.6 points per game.Hornets: 5-5, averaging 115.1 points, 49.6 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.3 points.INJURIES: Magic: Jalen Suggs: day to day (knee), Colin Castleton: out (thumb).Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), KJ Simpson: day to day (hip).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.