Zion, Pelicans Slaughter Orlando Magic’s All-Younger Roster
New Orleans Pelicans center Steven Adams (#12) guards Orlando Magic power forward Chuma Okeke (#3) and center Mo Bamba (#5) for while Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson heads for the next at Amway Center Thursday, April 22, 2021. Photo: Harry Castiblanco/Florida National News.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Orlando Magic, stripped of their key players, faced Mount Zion and the New Orleans Pelicans at Amway Center Thursday night.
With Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams inactive, the burden lied on Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, Dwayne Bacon, Chuma Okeke, and the host of fresh young faces new to the Magic team and playing system to face off with trees like Steven Adams and Brandon Ingram.
From the start, Orlando’s main strategy involved drawing fouls. Even that strategy found the Magic wanting, though: while they were an impressive 86 percent from the line, the Pelicans made every single free throw.
Every. Single. One.
Mount Zion snatched an easy 21 points in the first half, leaving everyone else on the court in the dust. His teammate Brandon Ingram scored 18 points. The Magic were all single digits. Cole Anthony’s lead scorinig in the first half wasn’t even close: nine points. Mo Bamba followed with eight points.
At the end of the night, the Pelicans rout the Magic 135-100. NBA.com reports: “Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 29 points and six assists for the Pelicans, while Zion Williamson added 23 points (9-12 FG) and seven rebounds in 23 minutes of play. Mo Bamba tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for the Magic in the losing effort. The Pelicans improve to 26-33 on the season, while the Magic fall to 18-41.”