At an unusual time (12:30 p.m.!), the Pelicans won their first home preparation match against the Magic, not without being scared at the end of the game. With Jordan Hawkins (18 points), Zion Williamson was the most prominent player with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. The All-Star interior helped get his team off to a good start, with the help of CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray (6 points, 6 assists), who played his first match under his new colors (19-8). The Pelicans thus took the lead until the end, even if Orlando never gave up, notably coming back from a gap of -14 in the third quarter (75-61).
Mo Wagner then Goga Bitadze twice at the start of the fourth quarter helped bring the Floridians back into the game (81-80). Orlando even briefly went ahead on baskets from Jett Howard (86-87), until the Alvarado-Cain-Hill trio gave the locals the advantage back, up to +8 following a 2+1 from Jamal Cain (103-95). Cory Joseph's nine points almost changed everything for Orlando in the last minute of the match, and Trevelin Queen even inherited the winning shot, in vain, leaving the victory to New Orleans (106-104).
Carter Jr. injured
On the Orlando side, Wendell Carter Jr. could not imagine a worse return to the game. Victim of a broken left hand last October and operated on immediately, position 4 had to return to the pool table at the end of the season to be once again 100% operational
Unfortunately for him, he is injured again, right from the Magic's first preseason game! The player suffered a classic ankle sprain, falling badly after contesting a mid-range shot from Daniel Theis, twisting his ankle and causing him to forfeit the rest of the match. We now have to wait for a diagnosis from the Magic medical staff to know the possible duration of his unavailability.
A priori, we should not see him in Wednesday outfit in San Antonio tomorrow. Nor probably Friday for the revenge against the Pelicans, in Florida this time.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
