Roundup
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards
Hornets hand Heat third straight loss, Banchero sidelined — Southeast Division roundup
The Hornets edged the Heat 115-110 to move to 2-1, Miami fell to 0-3, and the Magic learned Paolo Banchero will miss several weeks, per U.S. reports.
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Sunday reshaped the early picture in the Southeast Division. The Charlotte Hornets outlasted the Miami Heat 115-110, while the Orlando Magic were hit with a major setback on the Paolo Banchero front.
Hornets climb to the top, Heat slide to 0-3
On their home floor, the Charlotte Hornets pulled out a 115-110 win over the Miami Heat. The victory lifts Charlotte to 2-1 and into a three-way tie atop the Southeast Division with the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.
For Miami, it was more of the same. The Heat fell to 0-3 and are still searching for their first win of the season. According to Hoops Rumors, the early returns on the Giannis Antetokounmpo–Bam Adebayo frontcourt have been rough. The outlet notes that Miami has been outscored by 46.9 points per 100 possessions in the 34 minutes the two big men have shared the floor over the first two games. Hoops Rumors also points out that Minnesota head coach Chris Finch and the Timberwolves, who beat Miami on opening night, have already capitalized on those early issues.
Hawks stumble, Wizards idle
The Atlanta Hawks dropped a high-scoring contest 121-114 to the Houston Rockets, slipping to 2-1 but remaining part of the division’s leading pack. The Washington Wizards, also sitting at 2-1, had the night off and hold their place near the top of the standings.
Major blow in Orlando: Banchero out multiple weeks
The news was even worse in Orlando, where the Magic are 0-2 and now bracing for life without their centerpiece forward. CBS Sports reports that Paolo Banchero is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain. Hoops Rumors adds that the Magic announced Banchero has been diagnosed with a low-grade high ankle sprain following an MRI and did not provide an official timetable, while Shams Charania of ESPN, as relayed by Hoops Rumors, indicated Banchero is likely to be out for several weeks.
In the background, Hoops Rumors also notes that the NBA G League held its 2026-27 draft on Saturday afternoon, involving the affiliate clubs of several Southeast Division teams — another sign that the season is underway across the entire developmental ladder.