Magic rally to win over Pelicans, 112-108
When asked prior to Sunday’s game at New Orleans what would be a key for success, the first thing Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said was that his squad must protect the paint against the New Orleans Pelicans. And that was the first thing Orlando failed to do. New Orleans racked up 50 points in the paint to go ahead by as many as 15 points in the third quarter at the Smoothie King Center.
The Magic flipped the script, though. Trailing by seven points entering the fourth quarter, they outscored the Pelicans 31-20 in the final frame to finish off 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 other players scored at least 11 points: Wendell Carter Jr.
(13), Franz Wager (11), Jalen Suggs (11) and Jevon Carter off the bench (11 points). It was the 18th time this season Orlando has overcome a double-digit deficit to win. 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 Detroit 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).