NBA: Magic secures 121-106 victory over Pelicans, credits Banchero’s triple-double

Paolo Banchero paved the way for a 121-106 victory for the Orlando Magic against the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Banchero’s second ever career triple-double secured the Magic’s second triumphant season in 12 years, despite initial struggles on the court. Other key players for the Magic included Jalen Suggs – top scorer with 22 points – and Franz Wagner who added 18. Zion Williamson, on the other hand, assisted the Pelicans with 20 points, seven rebounds, a spectacular block and eight turnovers.

In a separate match, the Washington Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings, with Kyle Kuzma scoring 31 points and the team snapping a five-game losing streak. Other notable contributions came from Deni Avdija with 17 additional points, and Corey Kispert scoring 15. However, the Kings suffered their first loss in their last five games in Washington despite Jordan Poole scoring 14 points for the Wizards.

Damian Lillard, with 30 points and 12 assists, led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 115-108 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks celebrated the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo who had been absent from two games due to a left hamstring issue. Antetokounmpo had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while the Nets suffered their fifth consecutive loss, despite strong performances from Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton, and Cam Thomas who scored 24, 22, and 21 points respectively.

In a game between the Houston Rockets and the Chicago Bulls, the Rockets emerged victorious with Jalen Green sealing the deal with 26 points. The Rockets are currently performing strong in March, with nine wins from 10 games and two and a half games behind the Golden State for the last play-in position in the Western Conference. This success is building on the foundation of their longest winning streak since 2021.

The Denver Nuggets celebrated a win against the New York Knicks; with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 31 points and Nikola Jokic securing a triple-double of 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. This victory is their 13th since the All-Star break, and puts them on the brink of obtaining first place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets faced a potential setback with Jamal Murray limping off late in the game after injuring his ankle.