Game ID: 22401141
Orlando Magic @ New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 23 15 27 28 93ORL 32 36 20 25 113
NOP vs ORL ScoutingNOP vs ORL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 10 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 40 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 11 since 2/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Payton missed 41 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 42 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 4 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 43 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 44 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Olynyk missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 31 min (120% of 25)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 45 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 16 min since (105% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Missi missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 22 min (81% of 27)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 46 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 31 min since (120% of 25)
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 12 min since (83% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 16 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 47 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 22 min since (81% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 27 min since (107% of 25)
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 14 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 17 since 2/12, returns tonight: 22 min (92% of 24)
OUT Payton missed 48 since 12/05, returns tonight: 12 min (56% of 22)
OUT Cain missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
BACK Missi back 3/17 after 2, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Olynyk back 3/15 after 2, 28 min since (110% of 25)
ORL availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Houstan missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 2/23 after 2, 8 min since (60% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Houstan missed 3 since 2/27, returns tonight: 8 min (56% of 13)
BACK Joseph back 2/23 after 2, 14 min since (105% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 23 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 4 since 2/27, returns tonight: 12 min (81% of 15)
OUT Queen missed 4 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 3/02 after 2, 15 min since (111% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 24 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 5 since 2/27, returns tonight: 12 min (86% of 14)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 12 min since (81% of 15)
BACK Joseph back 3/02 after 2, 15 min since (111% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (52% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 26 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Joseph missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 30 min (223% of 13)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 11 min since (76% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 12 min since (86% of 14)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (50% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 27 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backBACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 11 min since (76% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 30 min since (223% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 9 min since (66% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 28 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Anthony missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 18)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 15 min since (98% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 29 min since (216% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 12 min since (93% of 13)
ORL availability going into 3/19 · 2 days' restOUT Queen missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Anthony back 3/16 after 2, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 16 min since (107% of 15)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 28 min since (205% of 13)
ORL availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 2 since 3/16, returns tonight: 9 min (75% of 12)
BACK Anthony back 3/16 after 2, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 27 min since (203% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (13 straight), Payton (44 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 30 free throws a game; Banchero at 28 and Wagner at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-5 a night and Orlando minus-12. Call it Orlando 112, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/06 vs HOU 97-109 — NOP notes
NOP lost 97-109. NOP shot 37% (31 of 83) to HOU's 57%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 33 times to HOU's 18 — 26 points from the stripe to their 8. Murphy III led with 26 (9 of 15, 3 of 8 from three); Williamson added 20, McCollum 13. Q1 was theirs, 34-31, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. They led by as many as 11. Williamson's -18 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 @ HOU 117-146 — NOP notes
NOP lost 117-146. NOP shot 48% (48 of 99) to HOU's 56%, 12 of 34 from three. Williamson led with 20 (10 of 19); McCollum added 17, Alvarado 17. Q4 was theirs, 34-37, but the other 3 periods went 109-83 against them. Williamson's -37 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 vs MEM 104-107 — NOP notes
NOP lost 104-107. NOP shot 41% (35 of 85) to MEM's 41%, 13 of 34 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MEM's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 39-57 against them. Murphy III led with 27 (9 of 21, 2 of 9 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Matković added 13, Olynyk 12. Q4 was theirs, 25-18, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 89-79 against them. They led by as many as 14. Murphy III's -26 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 vs LAC 127-120 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-120. NOP shot 55% (47 of 85) to LAC's 50%, 17 of 31 from three. NOP turned it over 19 times to LAC's 11, and LAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 46-34 for them. McCollum led with 23 (8 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Williamson added 22, Murphy III 21. The hinge was Q1, 28-21: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/13 vs ORL 93-113 — NOP notes
NOP lost 93-113. NOP shot 44% (35 of 79) to ORL's 52%, 7 of 25 from three. NOP turned it over 13 times to ORL's 8. Williamson led with 20 (8 of 15, 4 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 17, Alvarado 12. Q3 was theirs, 27-20, the deficit cut from 30 to 23, but the other 3 periods went 93-66 against them. Matković's -30 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 132, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 21 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Olynyk (2 straight), Brooks Jr. (14 straight), Payton (45 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 119 a night to San Antonio's 132 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 15 times a game to San Antonio's 11. Call it San Antonio 120, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/17 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Murphy III at 20 a game. Without Missi (2 straight), Brooks Jr. (15 straight), Payton (46 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Harris at 16 a game. Without Smith (6 straight), Harper Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 28 free throws a game to New Orleans's 19 and the defense, Detroit allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 121. Call it Detroit 116, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/19 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Brooks Jr. (16 straight), Payton (47 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it Minnesota 120, New Orleans 108, Minnesota by 12.
3/21 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 33 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (17 straight), Payton (48 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 28 free throws a game to New Orleans's 20 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 112 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Minnesota 119, New Orleans 109, Minnesota by 10.
3/04 vs TOR 113-114 — ORL notes
ORL lost 113-114. ORL shot 48% (40 of 83) to TOR's 48%, 15 of 36 from three, and got to the line 23 times to TOR's 35. ORL turned it over 14 times to TOR's 20. The glass went 35-48 against them. Banchero led with 41 (14 of 20, 4 of 5 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Wagner added 28, da Silva 12. Q4 was theirs, 40-34, the deficit cut from 7 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 80-73 against them.
3/06 vs CHI 123-125 — ORL notes
ORL lost 123-125. ORL shot 46% (40 of 87) to CHI's 50%, 9 of 33 from three, and went to the line 40 times to CHI's 30 — 34 points from the stripe to their 24. ORL turned it over 12 times to CHI's 18. The glass went 33-48 against them. Banchero led with 20 (5 of 15, 0 of 5 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Anthony added 20, Caldwell-Pope 19. Q3 was theirs, 35-27, turning a 3-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. They led by as many as 11.
3/08 @ MIL 111-109 — ORL notes
ORL won 111-109. ORL shot 51% (42 of 82) to MIL's 55%, 12 of 32 from three. Banchero led with 29 (9 of 16, 4 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Anthony added 22, Wagner 18. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Anthony was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
3/10 @ HOU 84-97 — ORL notes
ORL lost 84-97. ORL shot 33% (28 of 86) to HOU's 39%, 8 of 32 from three, and went to the line 24 times to HOU's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. ORL turned it over 8 times to HOU's 19. The glass went 42-63 against them. Banchero led with 25 (10 of 23, 2 of 6 from three); Wagner added 15. Q4 was theirs, 22-22, but the other 3 periods went 75-62 against them. Carter Jr.'s -14 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ NOP 113-93 — ORL notes
ORL won 113-93. ORL shot 52% (43 of 83) to NOP's 44%, 13 of 33 from three. ORL turned it over 8 times to NOP's 13. Banchero led with 34 (14 of 22, 4 of 8 from three); Wagner added 27, Caldwell-Pope 12. The hinge was Q2, 36-15: a lead of 9 became 30, and the lead reached 36. Banchero was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/14 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Randle at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 30 and Wagner at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-0 a night and Orlando minus-11 and the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to Orlando's 34. Call it Minnesota 114, Orlando 106.
3/16 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Mitchell (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 30 and Wagner at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Anthony (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-2 a night and Orlando minus-11 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 14 times a game to Orlando's 10. Call it Cleveland 115, Orlando 107.
3/19 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 25 and Eason at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 19 a night. Without Thompson (5 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-19 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Houston 110, Orlando 108, Orlando keeping it close.
3/21 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sarr at 21 and George at 13 a game. Without Coulibaly (5 straight), Brogdon (14 straight), Holmes (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 105 a night to Washington's 122 and the glass, where Washington has been minus-2 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Orlando 111, Washington 110, Washington keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ORLAB A. Black
CH C. Houstan
CJ C. Joseph
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
PB P. Banchero
TQ T. Queen
TD T. da Silva
WC W. Carter Jr.
NOPAR A. Reeves
BB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KM K. Matković
MB M. Bamba
TM T. Murphy III
ZW Z. Williamson
ORL/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Banchero scores 34 points and Magic build a 30-point halftime lead in a 113-93 rout of the Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS -- — Paolo Banchero had 34 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, and the Orlando Magic beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-93 on Thursday night.
Franz Wagner added 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, going 11 for 17 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists. New Orleans also got 17 points from Trey Murphy III .
The Magic took the lead with 9:24 left in the first quarter and did not relinquish it. It was 68-38 by halftime, with Banchero racking up 24 points and Wagner 20. It was the first time since detailed play-by-play began being kept in 1996-97 that two Orlando players scored at least 20 points in the first half.
Takeaways Magic: Orlando delivered a clean offensive performance in a game it needed to strengthen its playoff positioning. The Magic shot 51.8% from the field and committed just eight turnovers. Orlando’s starting forwards, Banchero and Wagner, shot a combined 25 of 39 from the field.
Pelicans: New Orleans scored just 15 points in the second quarter on 5-for-18 shooting to fall behind by 30 at the break.
Key moment Banchero’s behind-the-back dribble into a Euro step in traffic for a layup gave the Magic a 47-30 lead in the second quarter.
Key stat At one point, Banchero and Wagner had made a combined 15-for-16 shots from the field.
Up next The Magic visit Minnesota on Friday. The Pelicans will visit the Spurs on Saturday.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .