New Orleans plays Orlando in non-conference showdown

By Canadian Press on March 12, 2025.

Orlando Magic (30-36, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (18-48, 14th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Trey Murphy III and the New Orleans Pelicans host the Orlando Magic in a non-conference matchup.

The Pelicans have gone 12-21 at home. New Orleans ranks sixth in the NBA with 12.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 3.5 offensive boards.

The Magic are 12-20 on the road. Orlando is 14-19 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Pelicans score 111.0 points per game, 4.9 more points than the 106.1 the Magic give up. The Magic’s 44.0% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.3 percentage points lower than the Pelicans have allowed to their opponents (48.3%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Murphy is averaging 21.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Pelicans. Jordan Hawkins is averaging 12.4 points over the last 10 games.

Franz Wagner is scoring 24.5 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 28.1 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 46.8% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 114.3 points, 46.1 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points per game.

Magic: 3-7, averaging 105.8 points, 41.0 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Brandon Boston Jr.: out (ankle), Herbert Jones: out for season (shoulder), Dejounte Murray: out for season (leg), Zion Williamson: out (rest), Kelly Olynyk: day to day (rest), CJ McCollum: out (rest).

Magic: Jalen Suggs: out for season (quad), Moritz Wagner: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Associated Press

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