ORLANDO – After a nine-day, five-game road trip, the Orlando Magic returned to the friendly confines of the Kia Center on Friday night. The Magic will host the New Orleans Pelicans in the first of their five consecutive home games. Tip time is 7pm ET.

The 3-6 Magic are looking to snap a five-game losing streak as they adjust to life without Paolo Banchero, who will be sidelined for a month or more with a right oblique injury. In the four games he was sidelined, the Magic had the league’s worst offense.

New Orleans is also 3-6, has its share of injuries and is struggling to find its way. Cleveland got the best of the Pelicans and remained undefeated with a 131-122 victory in New Orleans on Wednesday night.

Key Returners (2024-25 stats)

Important Additions

Notable Departures

The Pelicans began a transformative summer last season after losing to Oklahoma City in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

They helped facilitate a years-long trade to split the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray backfield, deal Dyson Daniels and attract capital to Atlanta for Murray. Finally, the Pelicans have a true point guard to direct the traffic on offense and support the offensive play of Zion Williamson.

But Murray broke his hand in the first game of the season and the Pelicans’ injury reports continue to grow. Six players were listed ahead of the match against Orlando.

Like the Magic, the Pelicans have struggled to get back on their feet in the 2024-25 season. Also at 3-6, New Orleans has the NBA’s worst defense in terms of defensive rating through nine games. For a woeful Magic offense without the injury of leading scorer Paolo Banchero, a soft defense might be the cure the doctor prescribed.

The Magic’s paint-heavy approach could be a tough matchup for the Pelicans, who are currently giving up the second-most points to their opponents in the lane. Opponents have also been extremely effective against the Pelicans, which means something has to give; Either the Magic offense recovers or New Orleans’ fortunes turn around in the 10th game of the season.

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