ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his second career triple-double, overcoming early shooting woes to help the Orlando Magic beat the New York Pelicans. Orléans 121-106 Thursday evening.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his second career triple-double, overcoming early shooting woes to help the Orlando Magic beat the New York Pelicans. Orléans 121-106 Thursday evening.
“I just try to let the game come to me,” Banchero said. “I tried to communicate with my passing. I just wanted to keep finding guys.
At 42-28, the Magic completed their second winning season in 12 years. They have won 18 of 23 games.
Banchero missed his first 10 shots, including two free throws, then rallied to finish 9 of 18 from the field.
“Teams are loading up on him, defending him in different ways. He makes the right plays, the right pass, without forcing the game,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “He reads what the defense is doing, he adjusts as the game goes on and then finds his time to attack. That’s what an All-Star does.
Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 22 points and Franz Wagner added 18.
Trey Murphy III had 21 points for New Orleans. Zion Williamson added 20 points, seven rebounds and a spectacular block from Banchero that helped New Orleans get off to a hot start.
The Pelicans, who had won seven of eight, lost forward Brandon Ingram early in the second half to a left knee injury. His teammates helped Ingram off the court and the Pelicans were awaiting the results of an MRI Thursday night.
“I hope there’s nothing wrong with him,” Murphy said.
After the Magic fell behind by 12 points in the first quarter, Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner came off the bench to lead a 33-10 charge over the next nine minutes. Orlando led 47-36 before Banchero scored a point.
“In the groups, we kept saying, ‘Don’t panic, don’t worry. We get what we want,” Banchero recalls. “As we defended and got shots … everyone echoed the same thing: ‘Stay like that. It will come.'”
The Magic pushed the lead to 20 late in the third quarter before Murphy, Williamson and CJ McCollum put the Pelicans back in the game with 10 straight points.
But Banchero dove after a Pelicans turnover to complete an 8-0 Orlando run that put the game away midway through the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans shot 54.5 percent but made just six of 20 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers, including eight by Williamson.
“We have to create 3-point opportunities for each other, and that’s one of their strengths defensively,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said. “Every time the ball goes from one side to the other, we get quality looks. But 20 3s are not enough. Give them credit. They were mentally stronger than us tonight, and they were more disciplined tonight.
Magic guard Gary Harris left the game with sore right foot.
FOLLOWING
Pelicans: At Miami Friday night.
Magic: Host Sacramento Saturday night.
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APNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Dick Scanlon, Associated Press
