Paolo Banchero scores 29, Magic top Pelicans 101-93

NEW ORLEANS(AP) — Paolo Banchero capped a 29-point performance with threeclutch mid-range jumpers in the closing minutes, and the OrlandoMagic defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 101-93 on Monday night.

The first twoof Banchero’s big shots broke ties before he hit another to make it97-93. Franz Wagner, who had 11 points, added a 10-foot floaterfrom the baseline with 25 seconds left and Orlando held on fromthere. New Orleans lost its fourth straight.

MarkelleFultz and Moritz Wagner each scored 14 points for Orlando, whichalso got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Wendell Carter Jr.

BrandonIngram scored 25 points for New Orleans (30-32), which is clingingto the 10th and final Western Conference play-in spot by percentagepoints over Portland (29-31), with those clubs set to play oneanother later this week.

CJ McCollumadded 18 points for the Pelicans, who’ve struggled ever since starpower forward Zion Williamson went out with a right hamstringinjury in early January.

Orlando ledby as many as 11 points when Jalen Suggs’ 3 made it 36-25 at theend of the first quarter.

Trey MurphyIII’s 27-foot 3 and alley-oop dunk of Naji Marshall’s lob intransition helped the Pelicans slowly chip away during the secondquarter, when New Orleans held Orlando to just 14 points.

JoshRichardson’s pull-up jumper from the top of the key pulled thePelicans within 50-49 as time expired in the first half.

Orlando ledfor most of the second half, but never by more than eight, allowingthe Pelicans to claw back into an 89-all tie on Herb Jones’ freethrow with 4:51 left.

TIP-INS

Magic:Improved to 11-20 on the road after going 10-31 in away games lastseason. ... Outshot the Pelicans 45.6% (36 of 79) to 44.7% (34 of76) and outrebounded New Orleans 43-38.

Pelicans:Williamson missed his 25th straight game with a right hamstringinjury. The Pelicans are 7-18 during that stretch. ... Jones scored10 points. ... New Orleans shot 22.2% (6 of 27) from 3-pointrange.

UPNEXT

Magic: VisitMilwaukee on Wednesday in the second of three straight roadgames.

Pelicans:Visit Portland on Wednesday to open a three-game trip.