Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Mar 13, 2025 10:35 pm

Big first half leads to Magic rout of Pelicans

Magic, Pelicans

Paolo Banchero had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Franz Wagner scored 27 and the visiting Orlando Magic routed the New Orleans Pelicans 113-93 on Thursday night.

The Magic, who had lost six of their previous seven games, built a 30-point halftime lead and coasted to their seventh consecutive victory against the Pelicans.

Kentavius Caldwell-Pope and Cory Joseph each scored 12 for the Magic, who shot 51.8 percent from the floor. New Orleans shot 44.3 percent overall and 28 percent on 3-pointers.

Zion Williamson had 20 points and eight boards for New Orleans, while Trey Murphy III added 17 points. Jose Alvarado scored 12, all of which came in the fourth quarter, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Jordan Hawkins added 11 apiece for the Pelicans, who lost at Orlando 115-88 on Nov. 8.

Orlando, which improved to just 11-22 in 2025, led by as many as 36 points in the third quarter. But the Pelicans finished the period with an 18-5 run to outscore the Magic 27-20 in the frame and narrow the gap to 88-65. The closest New Orleans got in the fourth quarter was 95-80.

The Magic, the lowest-scoring team in the NBA (104.3) raced to a 17-6 lead before the game was five minutes old. Most of the points came from close range as Wagner made four layups and Banchero made one.

Orlando expanded the lead to 32-16 before cooling off. Williamson beat the quarter buzzer with a layup that completed a 7-0 run to pull the Pelicans within 32-23 at the end of the period.

Wagner scored seven points and Wendell Carter Jr. added six during a 16-7 run to start the second quarter, pushing the lead to 18 for Orlando. Karlo Matkoviic made a layup for New Orleans, but Joseph and Banchero each made a 3-pointer as the lead swelled 57-33.

After a Matkovic dunk, Banchero and Wagner each sank triples as the Magic went into the half on top 68-38. Banchero (24) and Wagner (20) combined to outscore New Orleans by themselves in the first half.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Kam Jones
Mar 19, 2025 8:49 am

Seniors carry Marquette into matchup with New Mexico

Marquette spent the entire season in the Top 25, used the same starting five for all 33 games, and will journey to Cleveland for the first round of the NCAA…

Florida basketball Gators
Mar 19, 2025 8:28 am

Shuffling from underdog to favorite, Florida ready for Norfolk State

RALEIGH, N.C. — Florida coach Todd Golden said his team embraced an underdog mentality while navigating its way through the power-laden Southeastern Conference. The Gators (30-4) won’t have that angle…

Derik Queen
Mar 19, 2025 4:28 am

Derik Queen, Maryland face tourney-tested Grand Canyon

Bryce Drew knows all about shining moments in the NCAA Tournament. His task now is to create more. Drew’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer lifted No. 13 seed Valparaiso to a 70-69 victory…

More Basketball News

Kam Jones
Mar 19, 2025 8:49 am

Seniors carry Marquette into matchup with New Mexico

Marquette spent the entire season in the Top 25, used the same starting five for all 33 games, and will journey to Cleveland for the first round of the NCAA…

Florida basketball Gators
Mar 19, 2025 8:28 am

Shuffling from underdog to favorite, Florida ready for Norfolk State

Derik Queen
Mar 19, 2025 4:28 am

Derik Queen, Maryland face tourney-tested Grand Canyon

Memphis tigers
Mar 19, 2025 3:56 am

No. 12 Colorado State looks to make statement vs. Memphis

cleveland cavaliers
Mar 19, 2025 3:44 am

Kings, minus Domantas Sabonis, look to extend Cavs’ mini skid

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds