Magic 119, Pelicans 96: Magic dominate Pelicans for third-straight win

The Orlando Magic stayed hot on Wednesday night, cruising to a comfortable win against the New Orleans Pelicans in a game they led by as many as 35 points. The rout was on early, as the Magic got out to a 12-2 lead to open the game, and won each of the first three quarters.

The Pelicans, who were without Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, E’Twaun Moore, were ill-prepared to handle the rolling Magic and it showed. The Pelican defense looked out of sync all night, and the Magic capitalized early and often.

The Magic wing duo of Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier combined to hit their first seven shots, including going 4-of-4 from deep, and the guards had a very strong night overall.

Fournier paced the team with an efficient 23 points on only 13 shots, chipping in five rebounds and three assists as well. Magic point guard D.J. Augustin had a game-high seven assists, and Ross finished with 19 points, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Orlando forward Aaron Gordon also had a solid performance, netting 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a team-best +32 plus/minus.

Wearing his new Pelicans jersey, former Magic man Elfrid Payton returned to the city where he spent the first three and a half years of his NBA career, but it wasn’t a happy homecoming. Payton came into the game riding five-straight triple-doubles, stats that Orlando fans had seen EP compile many times over the years, but the Magic held him to a triple-single – seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

This win marked the third-straight for Orlando, who still sit firmly entrenched in the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference. Next on the docket, the Magic will stay at home to face the Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday and Monday respectively.