The Orlando Magic head to the Big Easy for a matinee preseason opener on Monday with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Orlando Magic open their preseason slate on Monday afternoon, visiting the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Orlando’s rebuild took shape in 2023-24 with a 47-35 record, fifth-best in the Eastern Conference, and a seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. The Magic have improved by double-digit victory totals in each of the last two seasons under coach Jamaal Mosley, who led Orlando to a 22-60 mark in his debut in 2021-22, before improving to 34 and 47 wins, respectively. New Orleans won 49 games, good for only seventh in the West, and emerged from the play-in tournament with the No. 8 seed, before getting swept in the first round.
How to Watch Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Preseason Today:
Game Date: Oct. 7, 2024
Game Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
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The Magic added veteran free agents Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who brings shooting range and a pair of rings to Central Florida, and Cory Joseph. They also re-signed the Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, as well as Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris and big man Goga Bitadze. Paulo Banchero led the club with 22.6 points, 6.9 boards and 5.4 assists per game in his second season, with Franz Wagner adding 19.7 points a night.
The Pelicans pulled off a big swap, sending four players and two first round picks to the Atlanta Hawks for former All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, who never meshed well with Trae Young in the Atlanta. Veteran center Jonas Valančiūnas went to the Washington Wizards in a sign-and-trade deal and New Orleans added free agents Javonte Green, Daniel Theis and Jamal Cain.
New Orleans boasted three 20-point per game scorers last season in Zion Williamson (22.9), Brandon Ingram (20.8) and CJ McCollum (20.0). With Valančiūnas, their top rebounder gone, the Pelicans also lost reserve big Larry Nance Jr. in the Murray trade, so size could be an issue.
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