The Orlando Magic fizzled out like a cheap bottle rocket Saturday night.

They shot off in a post-holiday blaze of glory, but they quietly and quickly fell to the ground, losing 103-101 to the Charlotte Hornets, letting another home opportunity slip away.

Mike Miller -- starting in place of Grant Hill -- scored a career-high 32 points. Tracy McGrady added 31 points, but he missed a short, last-second jump shot that would have added overtime.

It was a fitting way to lose a game they didn't deserve to win.

"When you spend a game praying and begging because you didn't take care of business early, most of the time the basketball gods don't look kindly upon you," said Magic Coach Doc Rivers. "We just didn't have the urgency most of the way, and that's what bothers me."

The Magic exploded for a season-high 39 points in the first quarter -- scoring 10 points in the first two minutes -- but they spent the rest of the game admiring their start and forgetting how to rebound or defend aggressively, strangely getting outhustled at home.

The Magic (7-7) pummeled the Hornets 109-99 Friday in Charlotte, and it looked as if it would happen again Saturday when they opened with a flurry by Miller and McGrady. But they managed just 20 points, 19 and 23 in the final three periods.