Bey’s 32 and Bane’s late dagger lift Pelicans past Magic, 108-112

The Pelicans don’t exactly cruise through this one — they have to earn every inch. In a game that stays tight from the opening tip and features 19 lead changes, New Orleans leans on Saddiq Bey’s explosive scoring night and Desmond Bane’s shot-making to outlast Orlando 112-108 in a fourth quarter that turns into a frantic back-and-forth sprint.

This never feels safe for either side. Orlando edges the first quarter 29-28, then New Orleans punches back in the second and briefly opens up a 15-point cushion, the biggest lead of the night. The Pelicans look in control after back-to-back momentum swings in the second and third quarters — Bey drops in a 10-foot turnaround fadeaway to cap a 9-0 run and push the lead to 52-46, then Yves Missi and the frontcourt keep the pressure on. Missi is everywhere, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, and his presence around the rim gives New Orleans real answers inside.

But Orlando keeps coming. Paolo Banchero controls the glass and the offense with 23 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, and the Magic never let the game drift too far. By the time the fourth quarter arrives, the Pelicans are still holding a slim edge, but it’s clear this has become a shot-making contest. The turning point starts late: with the game at 96-88, Jalen Suggs drills a running three as part of a 10-0 Orlando burst, and suddenly the building changes. Saddiq Bey answers immediately, burying a 27-foot pull-up at 4:56 to make it 99-98 — then Bane comes right back with a 29-foot bomb at 4:31 to flip the lead again, 101-99. That’s the stretch where the game stops being about structure and becomes about nerve.

From there, the Pelicans make the decisive plays. Missi’s rim protection shows up all night, but the sequence that helps New Orleans separate isn’t just a block or a rebound — it’s the accumulation of winning possessions. Banchero’s steal at 2:29 keeps Orlando alive, but the Magic can’t fully convert the extra chances. Then Franz Wagner’s step-back jumper at 0:43 gives New Orleans its final cushion, 108-102, and Jae’Lyn Fears’ floater at 0:34 is too little, too late. The Pelicans respond to every push, and when the game becomes a one-possession grind, their veterans and creators are the ones making the last shot.

Bey is the headline act with 32 points and six rebounds, scoring at every level and repeatedly punishing Orlando when it looks like the Magic might seize control. Bane adds 27 points, six rebounds and four assists, including the massive late three that puts New Orleans back in front during the final minutes. Banchero’s line is as strong as ever in a loss, and Missi’s double-double with blocks gives the Pelicans a real interior foundation. This one matters because it shows New Orleans can survive a high-pressure, possession-by-possession game against a playoff-caliber opponent — and close it with two perimeter shot-makers who are comfortable taking the biggest attempts. For Orlando, the loss stings because the fight was there, but the late defensive breakdowns and inability to fully capitalize on stops are what separate good teams from winning teams in April.