Franz Wagner scored a game-high 27 points and the Orlando Magic ended a five-game losing streak by beating the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 115-88 on Friday night.
Moritz Wagner netted 17 points, Goga Bitadze and Anthony Black had 11 each and Jonathan Isaac added 10 as the Magic began a five-game home-stand in the wake of that road skid while playing without Paolo Banchero (oblique) and Wendell Carter Jr. (foot).
Brandon Boston Jr. scored 26 points, Jose Alvarado had 21, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl netted 12, Brandon Ingram 11 and Jaylen Nowell 10 for the short-handed Pelicans, who lost their fourth straight. Ingram was the only one of New Orleans’ top six players available as Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Jordan Hawkins (back) joined Dejounte Murray (hand), CJ McCollum (adductor), Herbert Jones (shoulder) and Trey Murphy III (hamstring) on the sideline.
New Orleans scored the first four points of the third quarter to climb within six. Orlando rebuilt the lead to 13, but the Pelicans closed within 71-66 on a 3-pointer by Alvarado.
Black scored six points and the Magic finished with a 14-6 run to expand the lead to 85-72 at the end of the third quarter, and they remained in command throughout the fourth quarter.
Orlando was dominant in the opening period.
Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva each had two field goals as the Magic raced to an 11-2 lead. Bitadze had two field goals as the lead grew to 22-8.
The margin expanded to 19 before Antonio Reeves made a steal and 3-pointer and Boston added a field goal to trim the lead to 37-23 at the end of the first quarter.
Orlando took its biggest lead at 56-32 before the Pelicans heated up. Alvarado made two 3-pointers and another field goal and Boston had a 3-pointer and another field goal during a 15-1 closing run that left the Magic with a 57-47 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
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