Two struggling and short-handed teams meet Friday night as the New Orleans Pelicans visit the Orlando Magic.
The Pelicans have lost three consecutive games, while the Magic are on a five-game losing streak, both heavily impacted by injuries.
For the Pelicans, key players Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III are out. However, Zion Williamson (29 points) and Jordan Hawkins (seven points) returned to action on Wednesday night. The Pelicans used their seventh starting lineup in nine games and stayed competitive against the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers, ultimately losing 131-122. New Orleans led for much of the first half, which ended tied at 59. The Cavaliers pulled ahead with a 40-29 third quarter, although the Pelicans narrowed the gap to six points in the fourth.
The Magic’s losing streak includes five road losses, culminating in a 118-111 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Orlando trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half but made a valiant comeback attempt.
Orlando lost 108-85 at Dallas on Sunday and 102-86 at Oklahoma City on Monday. Friday’s game against the Pelicans will kick off a five-game homestand for the Magic.
All-Star Magic forward Paolo Banchero (oblique) is expected to miss a few more weeks, and center Wendell Carter Jr. (foot) missed the game against Indiana and is day-to-day. Goga Bitadze has started the last two games in Carter’s place, recording 10 points and 12 rebounds against the Pacers. Anthony Black came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points.
Orlando has struggled with slow starts, being outscored by an average of 12.8 points in the first quarters of its last four losses.
