Magic Defeat Pelicans 123-110 Behind Wagner’s 30 Points and Dominant Fourth-Quarter Scoring Run

ORLANDO, FLA- Courtesy of a dominant performance by second-year forward Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic (17-28, 13th in East) cruised by the New Orleans Pelicans (26-20, 4th in West) 123-110 on January 20th. After going 2-3 on their five-game road trip from January 10th-15th, the Magic returned to the Amway Center and secured a well-earned win, and are just four games behind Chicago for the No. 10 seed and final spot in the 2023 Play-In Tournament.

As previously mentioned, Wagner was stellar in Orlando’s win over New Orleans, recording a team-high 30 points, six rebounds, and nine assists on 10-16 (62.5%) shooting from the field and 5-7 (71.4%) from three-point range in 32 minutes. Following a solid rookie season highlighted with All-Rookie First Team Honors, Wagner has been even better in his sophomore season, averaging 33.4 MPG, 20.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 0.9 SPG while shooting 48.9% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range.

It’s worth noting that Wagner wasn’t the only player to post a solid outing for Orlando in the win. Despite serving as the primary backup behind Starting Guards Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris, third-year guard Cole Anthony scored a bench-high 22 points on 6-9 (66.7%) shooting from the field and 2-4 (50.0%) from three-point range. Similarly, 2022 Most Improved Player of the Year Award Candidate Bol Bol played well off the bench, notching twelve points, five rebounds, and two blocks on 5-7 (71.4%) shooting from the field. Finally, Harris scored 15 points and converted a team-high four three-pointers in his eleventh start of the season.

In reference to the aforementioned performances of Wagner, Anthony, Bol, and Harris, not all of Orlando’s players had quality showings. For example, 2022 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year Award Frontrunner Paolo Banchero recorded just eleven points on 2-7 (%) shooting from the field and 0-2 (0.0%) from three-point range in 25 minutes, earning a team-worst Plus/Minus of -15. Meanwhile, Star Center Wendell Carter Jr mustered just two points on 1-8 (%) shooting from the field, but managed to snag a team-high nine rebounds in 24 minutes. Finally, the frontcourt duo of Mo Bamba and Moritz Wagner off the bench was underwhelming, as the two big men combined for eight points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.

Fortunately, a lockdown defensive effort by the Magic was enough to clinch the thirteen-point win over the Pelicans. Without Superstar Forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, New Orleans struggled to find a consistent and efficient source of scoring. Despite leading New Orleans with 23 points, Guard C.J. McCollum needed 21 shots to do so, and had nine of his 23 points from the free-throw line. Likewise, Center Jonas Valanciunas notched 20 points and ten rebounds in just 28 minutes, but shot just 9-19 (47.4%) from the field.

Both McCollum’s and Valanciunas’ shooting struggles were an excellent representation of New Orleans, who shot 41-91 (45.1%) from the field, 10-35 (28.6%) from three-point range, and 18-24 (75.0%) from the free-throw line as a team. For reference, Orlando shot 39-75 (52.0%) from the field, 15-30 (50.0%) from three-point range, and 30-34 (88.2%) from the free-throw line. Turnovers weren’t much of an issue for the Magic or Pelicans, as the two teams combined for 24 throughout the entire game (14 TO ORL | 10 TO NOP).

Unlike a modest amount of turnovers, New Orleans was unable to limit personal fouls, as the Pelicans committed 21 personal fouls in the entire game. Specifically speaking, Forward Herbert Jones was off to a blistering start to the game with ten points, three assists, and two steals, but fouled out after 18 minutes of play. Luckily, Guards Trey Murphy (18/6/2) and Jose Alvarado (17/4/4) played well in Jones’ absence, keeping New Orleans competitive until Orlando closed the game with a 25-15 scoring run, starting at 9:17 in the fourth quarter.