ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — The Orlando Magic used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away from the New Orleans Pelicans for a 128-118 victory on Sunday at Kia Center. A close game through three quarters turned when Orlando outscored New Orleans 37-20 in the final period. The Pelicans, who led by as many as 10 points in the third after a 39-point quarter, could not sustain their offense down the stretch. The win improves Orlando to 22-18, while New Orleans falls to 9-32. A crowd of 19,059 watched the Magic overcome a 98-91 deficit entering the fourth. The total score of 246 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 234.5.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering 39-point third-quarter explosion from the visiting team, the Orlando Magic weathered the storm and unleashed a dominant fourth-quarter performance to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 128-118 on Sunday at Kia Center. A crowd of 19,059 saw the Magic, who led by as many as 12 points in the first half, watch that advantage evaporate completely under a blistering Pelicans offensive onslaught after halftime. New Orleans outscored Orlando 39-33 in the third period, erasing a 58-52 halftime deficit and briefly taking a lead, to enter the final quarter trailing by just three points at 91-88. The most important part of the game, however, was Orlando’s immediate and decisive response. The Magic opened the fourth quarter on a 15-6 run, re-establishing a double-digit lead they would not relinquish. Their defense stiffened, holding the Pelicans to 20 points in the final period while their own offense, led by the backcourt duo of Anthony Black and Desmond Bane, efficiently put the game away. Black, the Magic’s top star on the afternoon, spearheaded the effort with 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes. His backcourt partner, Desmond Bane, poured in a game-high 27 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. The Magic’s frontcourt was equally impactful, as Paolo Banchero posted 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while center Goga Bitadze controlled the paint with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Pelicans, who fell to 9-32 with the loss, were led by Trey Murphy’s 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Zion Williamson added 22 points and Jordan Poole came off the bench to score 21, but their collective efforts were not enough to overcome Orlando’s balanced and persistent attack, which improved the Magic to 22-18. The game began as a tightly contested affair, with both teams scoring 26 points in the opening quarter. Orlando managed to build a slight cushion in the second, taking a six-point lead into the break behind 16 first-half points from Bane. The narrative shifted dramatically in the third. New Orleans, one of the league’s lowest-winning teams, found an extraordinary rhythm, shooting 64% from the field in the quarter. Murphy and Poole hit critical three-pointers, and Williamson attacked the rim effectively as the Pelicans turned a deficit into a brief lead, stunning the home crowd. Orlando’s composure proved the difference. Rather than folding under the pressure of the Pelicans’ surge, the Magic regrouped during the quarter break. They opened the fourth with renewed defensive intensity, forcing difficult shots and turnovers. On offense, they methodically worked the ball inside to Bitadze and Banchero while Black and Bane applied pressure from the perimeter. A key sequence saw Black convert a three-point play and then assist on a Bitadze basket, pushing the lead back to 103-94 with 8:33 remaining. New Orleans could not mount another significant challenge. The Magic closed the game at the free-throw line, with Bane sinking four in the final 34 seconds to seal the victory. The final score defied pregame expectations, as the combined 246 points sailed over the projected over/under line of 234.5. Orlando also covered the pregame spread, having been installed as a 6.5-point favorite. National Statistical’s ELO system had given the Magic an 85.1% probability to win. The Pelicans continue a difficult road stretch, heading to Denver to face the Nuggets on Tuesday. The Magic, now above .500, will enjoy a brief break before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — The Orlando Magic, holding firm in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at Kia Center in a matchup defined by contrasting trajectories. Orlando (21-17) enters on the heels of a dramatic 104-103 road victory over Brooklyn on Wednesday, powered by a 30-point, 14-rebound, six-assist effort from All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. The Magic have won three of their last five, with Banchero averaging 26.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists over his last 10 games, establishing himself as the focal point of their attack. Conversely, New Orleans (8-31) owns the league’s worst record and is mired in a five-game losing streak following a 117-100 defeat in Atlanta. The Pelicans have dropped 11 of their last 12, with their lone win since Dec. 22 coming against Dallas on that date. The game features a compelling individual duel between former overall picks. While Banchero fuels Orlando’s rise, New Orleans’ fortunes rest heavily on the production of Zion Williamson. The powerful forward is averaging 24.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists over his last 10 contests, including a 35-point outing against Portland on Jan. 2. Containing him will be a primary task for Orlando’s top-ranked defense. Beyond Williamson, guard Jordan Poole (21 points) and Bryce McGowens (20 points) provided scoring support in the loss to Atlanta. For Orlando, center Wendell Carter Jr. (20 points, six rebounds) and forward Noah Penda (13 points, 11 rebounds) were key contributors alongside Banchero in the win over the Nets. The Magic won both meetings against the Pelicans last season. For New Orleans, this game begins a challenging three-game road trip before returning home to face Denver on Tuesday. Orlando continues a three-game homestand, with Memphis visiting on Thursday.