The Orlando Magic continued their late-season surge Sunday night with a resilient comeback victory, rallying from a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 112–108 and tighten the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Guard Desmond Bane led the way with 27 points, including a clutch fourth-quarter 3-pointer that gave Orlando its first lead since the second period and a decisive free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining to seal the win. The victory extended the Magic’s remarkable dominance over New Orleans to nine straight games overall — and nine consecutive wins in New Orleans dating back to 2017.
Orlando appeared in trouble early in the fourth quarter, trailing 94–84 after struggling from beyond the arc for most of the night. But the Magic responded with a decisive 14–2 run to flip the momentum. Bane’s go-ahead 3-pointer put Orlando ahead 101–99, and the Magic controlled the final minutes as the Pelicans’ offense went cold down the stretch.
Paolo Banchero added 23 points for Orlando, which overcame a difficult shooting night from long range, finishing just 7-for-33 (21%) from 3-point territory. Despite the perimeter struggles, the Magic found enough offense late — and tightened defensively when it mattered most.
The Pelicans were led by Saddiq Bey, who poured in 32 points in a strong individual effort. Rookie big man Yves Missi delivered a season-high 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Zion Williamson finished with 17 points but managed only one in the fourth quarter as New Orleans’ offense stalled late. The Pelicans made just one field goal over the final 4:50 and dropped their seventh straight game.
New Orleans carried momentum into halftime with a 60–52 lead after Orlando missed 18 of its first 20 attempts from 3-point range. The Pelicans stretched their advantage to 15 early in the second half after rookie Jeremiah Fears knocked down a 3-pointer while Magic guard Jalen Suggs slipped while defending on the play. Suggs endured a difficult shooting night — going 1-for-12 overall and 0-for-5 from deep — but helped spark Orlando’s turnaround with back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter that cut the deficit to 88–81 entering the fourth.
The comeback victory carries added significance for Orlando in the standings. Sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference, the Magic moved within one game of sixth-place Philadelphia as they continue pushing to avoid the play-in tournament.
The Magic return home to host Detroit on Monday night, while the Pelicans will try to halt their skid when they host Utah on Tuesday.
