Orlando came into New Orleans needing clean execution down the stretch. It got exactly that — and then some.
The Magic flipped a close game with a decisive fourth quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 31-20 in the final period to secure a 112-108 win on April 5, 2026 at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans, now 25-54 and riding a five-game losing streak, let a halftime lead slip away as Orlando (42-36) leaned into ball movement and late-game control.
How the game turned
The Pelicans did their best work before the break. After a one-point deficit following the first quarter (Orlando 29, New Orleans 28), New Orleans won the second quarter 32-23 to take a 60-52 lead into halftime. The advantage was built on pace and early rhythm — and it looked like the kind of punch a struggling team needs at home.
But Orlando never let the margin get away from it. The Magic answered with a 29-28 third quarter to keep the game within reach, then delivered the knockout stretch in the fourth. New Orleans managed just 20 points in the final frame, and the lead that felt stable at halftime was gone in a hurry.
Ball movement separated Orlando late
Orlando finished with 27 assists, a clear indicator of the way it generated offense — especially when possessions tightened in the fourth. New Orleans had 18 assists, and the gap showed most when the game demanded quick decisions and clean reads.
The Magic’s ability to keep the ball popping late helped them win the shot-quality battle without needing to grind into isolation. New Orleans, meanwhile, couldn’t match that same flow as the fourth quarter became a test of execution.
Quarter-by-quarter snapshot
- 1st: Magic 29, Pelicans 28
- 2nd: Pelicans 32, Magic 23 (Pelicans led 60-52 at half)
- 3rd: Magic 29, Pelicans 28
- 4th: Magic 31, Pelicans 20
What it means going forward
For Orlando, this was a road win built on structure — staying close through the middle quarters, then leveraging ball movement to finish. At 42-36 with recent form of WWLWL, the Magic continue to stack results that matter in the season’s final stretch.
For New Orleans, the themes are getting louder. The Pelicans have now dropped five straight (LLLLL), and this one will sting: a halftime lead at home, then a fourth-quarter collapse that turned a winnable night into another close loss.