Magic vs Pelicans
Sun, Jan 11
Final
Magic
Magic
(21 - 18)
128
-
118
Pelicans
Pelicans
(9 - 31)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic | 26 | 32 | 33 | 37 | 128 |
| Pelicans | 26 | 33 | 39 | 20 | 118 |
Venue: Kia Center
GAME LEADERS
PTS
REB
AST
Paolo Banchero
ORL | #5 | F
23
8
8
Trey Murphy III
NOP | #25 | F
21
7
6
Smart Game Analysis
Orlando Magic has a 72% chance of winning the game
The Orlando Magic are projected to leverage their superior defense and home-court advantage to defeat a struggling Pelicans team that is missing its entire starting defensive backcourt.
Key Analysis
- • Orlando's defense ranks 11th in the league allowing 114.9 points per game, significantly better than the Pelicans' unit which surrenders over 122 points nightly.
- • The Pelicans are decimated by injuries to key perimeter defenders Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray, leaving them vulnerable to Orlando's scorers.
- • Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane provide a consistent offensive duo for the Magic that outperforms New Orleans' reliance on Zion Williamson and rookie Derik Queen.
- • New Orleans has been terrible on the road with a 9-31 overall record and has lost 9 of its last 10 games despite a recent win.
- • The Pelicans rank 29th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage, allowing the Magic to pack the paint and neutralize Zion Williamson's interior threat.
- • To pull off an upset, the Pelicans must get a dominant performance from Zion Williamson and capitalize on Orlando's recent offensive struggles without Franz Wagner.
