Orlando Magic Drops First Preseason Game vs. New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans got revenge on the Orlando Magic in their preseason rematch.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 17, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is no longer undefeated in the preseason after a 104-92 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans at Amway Center on Tuesday night.

Each of Orlando's starters -- Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. -- each played just under 20 minutes of action. Among the starting lineup, Franz had the best night, scoring a game-high 19 points.

The second unit also got between 16-18 minutes of run, and Moe Wagner led the way with 16 points off the bench. Gary Harris joined him in double figures with 10 points of his own.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) defends during the first quarter at Amway Center. — Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) defends during the first quarter at Amway Center / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson provided a strong test for Orlando's frontcourt, scoring a combined 34 points for New Orleans. While Orlando had some difficulty defending the two former Duke Blue Devils, the Magic held its own, leading by two points at halftime.

Once the second half got underway, the intensity in the game simmered down slightly. Backups checked in and the quality of the game diminished slightly. The Magic trailed by a point going into the fourth quarter but was unable to grab a lead. Orlando trailed 91-90 with 3:48 to go, but the Pelicans pulled away with a 9-0 run that knocked the Magic out of it.

Goga Bitadze was the standout in the fourth quarter, scoring nine points in the final frame.

The Magic closes out the preseason on Friday night when it hosts Brazilian basketball club Flamenco. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Amway Center.

Published Oct 17, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.