by Rell Wright/Pelican Contributor
In a commanding performance at Orlando, Paolo Banchero led the Magic to a decisive 121-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, marking their triumph with his second career triple-double, featuring 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Despite a challenging start where Banchero missed his initial 10 shots, his resilience paid off as he ended the game shooting 9 for 18.
The win is significant for Orlando, securing their second winning season in the past 12 years and continuing a strong run with 18 victories in their last 23 games. The Magic’s comeback was fueled by strong bench contributions, particularly from Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner, who ignited a 33-10 run, overturning a 12-point deficit. The Pelicans, on the other hand, faced setbacks including an injury to Brandon Ingram and struggled with turnovers and limited three-point shots, according to coach Willie Green.
