Beede’s Breakdown: Magic overcome 18th double-digit deficit to win at Pels
When asked prior to Sunday’s game at New Orleans what would be a key for success, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley first mentioned protecting the paint against the Pelicans . Orlando failed to do that when New Orleans racked up 50 points in the paint to go ahead by as many as 15 points in the third quarter inside Smoothie King Center. Trailing by seven points entering the fourth quarter, however, the Magic flipped the script and outscored the Pelicans 31-20 in the final frame en route to a 112-108 victory on the road.
Magic teammates Desmond Bane (27 points) and Paolo Banchero (23) combined for 50 points in the four-point win and four others scored 11-plus. The outcome marked the 18th time this season Orlando has overcome a double-digit deficit to win, the most league-wide. Despite Saddiq Bey notching 32 points, New Orleans (25-54) lost its eighth game in a row while Orlando won its second straight.
With only four games left in the regular season, the Magic (42-36) have a quick turnaround when they host the Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back Monday at Kia Center. Banchero’s impact Banchero followed up a nine-point second quarter by adding seven in the third. He remained aggressive throughout the night by attacking the paint and getting to the free throw line.
The Magic forward did a little bit of everything when he recorded his 25th double-double of the season and his 20th game with 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds with 16 boards. Making plays often for his teammates, Banchero added six assists, but turned the ball over five times. It marked the 28th game in his career with 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, a total that is third-most in franchise history and trails only Nikola Vucevic (42) and Tracy McGrady (34).
Slow second quarter Orlando led by one point after the first 12 minutes of action but found itself down eight at the half. The Pelicans went on a 17-3 run across a five-minute stretch in the second quarter when their zone defense gave Orlando’s offense problems. The Magic settled for 3-pointers at times and failed to attack the paint with as much success as New Orleans found on the other end.