Desmond Bane scored 27 points and the Orlando Magic erased a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-108 on Sunday night at Smoothie King Center.
Paolo Banchero added 23 points for Orlando, which won despite going just 7-for-33 from 3-point range. The Magic improved to 42-36 and stayed in the race to avoid the play-in tournament, pulling within one game of sixth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference.
The turning point came early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 94-84, Orlando ripped off a 14-2 run to take its first lead since the second period, with Bane’s 3-pointer putting the Magic ahead 101-99.
Orlando then closed it out at the line, and Bane iced the game with a free throw with 9.5 seconds left. The win also extended the Magic’s winning streak against New Orleans to nine games and marked Orlando’s ninth straight victory in New Orleans.
That kind of history has become a real issue for the Pelicans, who have not beaten the Magic since Dec. 23, 2021. New Orleans also has not beaten Orlando at home since Jan. 18, 2017, a stretch that now includes another late-game collapse.
Saddiq Bey carried New Orleans with 32 points, but the Pelicans lost for the seventh straight time after managing just one field goal in the final 4:50. Yves Missi delivered a season-high 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Zion Williamson scored 17, including only one point in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans led 60-52 at halftime after Orlando missed 18 of its first 20 3-point attempts. New Orleans pushed the margin to 15 in the third quarter before the Magic steadied themselves and cut the deficit to 88-81 after three periods.
Jalen Suggs struggled through an 0-for-5 night from deep and finished 1-for-12 overall, but Orlando still found enough production from Bane, Banchero and its defense to survive. The Magic also survived a rough night from long distance because they controlled the game’s final possessions and limited New Orleans to 42 percent shooting.
For New Orleans, the loss dropped the team to 25-54 and kept the skid rolling heading into the final stretch. Orlando, meanwhile, continues to build momentum at the right time as the postseason race tightens.
The Magic return home Monday to host Detroit, while the Pelicans stay at home to meet Utah on Tuesday.
