Paolo Banchero dropped 32 points to lead the Orlando Magic (45-31) to a 117-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (45-31) on Wednesday night.
This win propelled the Magic half a game ahead of the New York Knicks for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Franz Wagner chipped in with 24 points, while Moritz Wagner added 18 points off the bench for the Magic.
Despite the Pelicans’ efforts, including a 36-point contribution from CJ McCollum, they couldn’t contain Banchero and the Magic’s offensive firepower.
Zion Williamson’s (15 points) injury, sustained during a layup attempt, limited his impact on the game and hindered the Pelicans’ ability to mount a comeback.
New Orleans suffered its third straight loss, slipping to sixth place in the competitive Western Conference standings.
In the game’s final moments, tensions ran high as three Pelicans players—Herbert Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Dyson Daniels—were ejected for comments directed at officials.
