Magic (2-5), Pelicans (1-5)
ORLANDO – It looks like Anthony Davis may be ready for the regular season.
In his return to the court for his first game action since Oct. 12, the fifth-year forward was in midseason form Thursday, rolling to a huge 24-point first half. The three-time All-Star finished with 33 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes, the biggest Pelicans highlight of what turned out to be a very long night in Central Florida to end preseason. Orlando, which trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, came all the way back to force overtime, then pulled out the victory in extra time.
In between, Davis was accidentally struck hard in the head by Serge Ibaka on an inbounds pass in the final seconds of regulation. Davis did not return to the game after that. However, after the game Alvin Gentry said Davis is fine, and that Gentry took Davis out after he'd played for a long stretch of consecutive minutes.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Trailing by three in the waning seconds of overtime and with no timeouts remaining, Terrence Jones had to heave a deep three-pointer just before the buzzer and missed. The low-percentage attempt drifted right and bounded off the backboard, allowing Orlando to celebrate a come-from-behind victory.
PELICANS PLAYER UPDATES
Jones entered Thursday’s game as New Orleans’ leading scorer in preseason at 15.0 points per game. The Kentucky product joined former college teammate Davis in sparking the Pelicans’ big first half, dropping in 11 points, including a three-pointer and a dunk. Jones wasn’t done though, tacking on nine more points in the second half and four in OT for a total of 24 off the bench. ...
Buddy Hield was scoreless for most of the night, but then in the fourth quarter got hot. The rookie from Oklahoma scored all of his 11 points in the period, including a stretch of two three-pointers and a three-point play. Hield's putback score in the final minute of regulation gave the Pelicans a three-point lead, but Magic point guard Elfrid Payton improbably banked in a three-pointer to tie it at 105.
Tim Frazier is a pass-first point guard adept at setting up teammates for quality shots, something he demonstrated all preseason. Frazier delivered a typical all-around performance in Orlando, totaling 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“I thought we started the game great. We had great ball movement. I thought we were really active defensively. I liked the pace we were playing at. So that was all positive. But then I think we went away from that.” – Gentry on how his starting group sparked a 38-22 first quarter and strong open to the third quarter, but the Pelicans couldn’t maintain that later
“I thought he played well. He was very active offensively, but also very active defensively.” – Gentry on Davis’ performance in his return from a right ankle sprain
“I think I’ve been somewhat successful this preseason. I still have a lot of work to do. But I’ve been getting a lot of great advice from the coaching staff and Anthony (Davis), watching film and really getting better night in and night out each game.” – Jones on playing well off the bench this month
BY THE NUMBERS
62: Points in the first half by the Pelicans. They generated just 43 in the second half, helping the Magic claw back into the game.
19: New Orleans total turnovers, a number that spiked in the late stages Thursday. The Pelicans had at least one stretch in most of their preseason losses where turnovers became a momentum-changer, something they’ll need to rectify in the regular season
6: Days until the Pelicans open the 15th season in franchise history, Wednesday vs. Denver in the Smoothie King Center