NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 27 points and the Orlando Magic overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-108 on Sunday night.
The Magic extended their winning streak against the Pelicans to nine games, with Orlando winning its ninth consecutive game in New Orleans. The Magic last lost to the Pelicans on December 23, 2021 in Orlando, and their last loss to New Orleans was on January 18, 2017.
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At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Orlando trailed 94-84, but Orlando went on a 14-2 run to take the lead for the first time since the second quarter. Bane’s three-pointer put the Magic ahead 101-99. They suppressed the Pelicans at the last moment and sealed the victory with Bane’s free throw with 9.5 seconds left.
Paolo Banchero scored 23 points for Orlando, which won despite shooting 7-for-33 (21 percent) from distance.
Saddiq Bey scored 32 points for the Pelicans, who lost their seventh straight game after a field goal in the final 4:50. Yves Missy scored a season-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. Zion Williamson scored 17 points but only scored one in the fourth quarter.
At halftime, the Magic made 18 of 20 three-pointers and trailed 60-52. Jalen Suggs went 0-for-5 from distance and 1-for-12 overall. Suggs struggled early in the second half, falling to the ground while backpedaling while trying to stay in front of rookie Jeremiah Fiers, who drained a 3-pointer to give the Pelicans a double-digit lead.
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Suggs then missed three consecutive shots and Orlando fell behind by 15 points. He hit consecutive three-pointers, and the Magic tied 88-81 after three quarters.
Orlando currently sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and is just one game away from sixth-place Philadelphia trying to avoid the play-in round.
Next
Magic: Host Detroit on Monday.
Pelicans: Host Utah on Tuesday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
