The Orlando Magic continued their win-one, lose-one pattern with a 128–118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, fueled by a dominant fourth-quarter surge. The game stayed back and forth for much of the night, with neither team able to create real separation until New Orleans seized momentum in the third quarter. The Pelicans outscored Orlando 39–33 in the period, entering the fourth with a cushion behind 22 points from Zion Williamson and 21 from Trey Murphy III.

Giving up 39 points in the third wasn’t the deciding factor, though. The story was Orlando’s response. The Magic locked in defensively in the fourth quarter, holding New Orleans to just 20 points while flipping the game with energy, execution, and pace. That defensive stand proved decisive, allowing coach Jamahl Mosley’s group to close strong and pull away late.

"Offensive rebounds, missing assignments here off of guys coming off shooters,” Mosley said about the poor defensive performance in the third quarter. “I think we gave up about probably five threes that quarter alone. But just the communication of what guys are doing, knowing your personnel, and then the other side of it is turning the ball over. You turn it over a couple times, they're out in the break. We had two or three right away that we didn't even get the possessions. So I think those are big keys."

"I think that the execution offensively but the focus defensively,” Mosley said post-game. “Giving up 39 in that third was not who we wanted to be. It's not who we are. And then turning it around and stringing stops together to hold them to 20 in that fourth quarter. That's got to be our identity."

Despite Desmond Bane leading the way with 27 points and Anthony Black adding 26, the story of the night was Moritz Wagner’s return after missing more than a year while recovering from a torn ACL. Wagner was limited to just 10 minutes, but his impact was immediate, providing a spark early in the fourth quarter with an and-one that energized the Magic. Orlando rode that momentum, outscoring New Orleans by 17 in the final period to seal the win.

"Just the joy of playing the game,” Mosley said about Wagner’s return. “I said that in the pregame. Like just the privilege and the honor to be out there again after being out for so long. Our guys embrace that and you talk about that before the game. Like it's a privilege to get out here and play, not a right. And so he took advantage of that. The crowd's energy towards Mo helped us out and that's why we say we have some of the best fans in the NBA because of that. And that lifted our guys spirits tonight."

"I honestly tried to stay away from the emotional part to the best that I can,” Wagner said about his return. “Just another day and then you have a game today. Obviously it means a lot to me. I'm kind of relieved now. Got it over with. I'm excited that we got it over with and now we can just act like it never happened. It did happen though."

The Magic improve to 22–18 on the season and remain atop the Southeast Division. Orlando will return to action on Jan. 15, hosting the Memphis Grizzlies.

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