Explosive Win for Orlando

New Orleans, LA — The Orlando Magic delivered a commanding performance at the Smoothie King Center, routing the New Orleans Pelicans 113-93 in a game that showcased what this team is really capable of when they are clicking.
A scorching first half, led by Franz Wagner making history and Paolo Banchero setting the tempo, allowed the Magic to make quick use of the Pelicans.

Key Injury Report Updates

Cole Anthony (strained left big toe) had to sit out of this one, leading to Cory Joseph starting in his spot. Joseph slid into the starting five nicely with an efficient 12-point performance. The Magic was also +20 when he was on the court, giving him the third-highest plus/minus of the team.
The Pelicans played without a handful of players, including Yves Missi (ankle), Kelly Olynyk (personal), and Brandon Boston Jr. (ankle). Former Magic 6th overall pick Mo Bamba, who recently signed a 10-day contract with New Orleans, played in place of the injured big men for 26 minutes tonight. 

Historic First Half

The Magic erupted for a 30-point lead at halftime, a testament to their exceptional play on both ends. Franz Wagner made Magic history with a perfect first half, where he didn’t miss a single shot or commit a single turnover, and scored 20 points—the first player to achieve such a feat in a half for Orlando.
Paolo Banchero was equally dominant, dropping 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field in the first nine minutes of the game. Their combined efforts fueled Orlando’s 51.8% field goal shooting and 39.4% from three for the game.

Pelicans Struggle to Respond

Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points and 8 rebounds, but his efforts couldn’t spark a comeback. Trey Murphy III added 17 points, and CJ McCollum managed just 9, as New Orleans faltered under Orlando’s relentless pressure.
The Pelicans’ bench, led by Jose Alvarado’s 12 points, provided some help, but it wasn’t enough to close the huge gap created by the Magic’s early onslaught.

Looking Ahead

This decisive win marks the Magic’s second win on this road trip, bringing them to 2-1 in their past three games. With two more road games to go, Orlando hopes to continue showing glimpses of their potential playoff form when their offense clicks and defense locks in.
As of tonight, the Magic’s playoff hopes are not totally dead and they can continue to build on this momentum heading into Minnesota tomorrow night to start a win streak for themselves.