New Orleans Pelicans vs Orlando Magic Picks and Predictions March 13th 2025

New Orleans Pelicans vs Orlando Magic March 13th 2025

At 8:00 ET, the Pelicans (-128) will host the Magic (+107) in a non-conference matchup. Orlando is favored by 1.5 points and the over/under line is 217.

Orlando is 30-36 and currently 8th in the Eastern Conference. New Orleans is 18-48 and 14th in the West.

Magic vs. Pelicans Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans
• Where: New Orleans at Smoothie King Center
• Date: Thursday, March 13th
• Betting Odds ORL -1.5, ORL -128 | NO +107 O/U 217

The Magic Can Win If…

The Magic fell to 30-36 on the season after a 97-84 loss to the Rockets on Monday. Orlando, who entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 181 points was well below the 210.5-point line.

Houston’s 13-0 run early in the game shifted momentum, and the Magic couldn’t recover. Orlando trailed 75-62 going into the 4th quarter, and despite matching the Rockets with 22 points in the final period, they couldn’t close the gap.

The Magic’s offense struggled in their 97-84 loss to the Rockets, shooting just 32.6% from the field and 25% from three-point range. They made only 8 threes in the game.

Paolo Banchero led the way with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 43.5% from the field and hitting 2 threes at 33.3%. Franz Wagner added 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 35.3%.

Despite a strong defensive effort, the Magic couldn’t come away with the win against the Rockets, allowing 97 points on 39% shooting. Orlando gave up 23 points in the 1st quarter and 28 in the 2nd, but tightened up in the 4th, holding Houston to 22 points.

The Magic struggled defending the three, with the Rockets hitting 16 threes at a 37% clip. Orlando sent Houston to the line 18 times, where they made 11 free throws. The Magic also recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks in the game.

• Although Orlando has a straight up record of 3-7 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 3-7. The team averaged 102 points per game in these games.
• Going back to their last five games as the favorite, the Magic have a straight up record of 2-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.
• Over their last three games, the Magic have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

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The Pelicans Can Win If…

The Pelicans improved to 18-48 on the season with a 127-120 win over the Clippers on Tuesday. New Orleans, who were +8 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but covered the spread at home. The total score of 247 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 222.5 by 24.5 points.

A key moment in the game was a 12-0 run by the Pelicans, which extended their lead from 32-23 to 44-23. Although the Clippers outscored New Orleans 39-37 in the 3rd and 30-29 in the 4th, the Pelicans’ 98-90 lead heading into the final quarter helped them hold on for the win.

The Pelicans shot 55.3% from the field and hit 17 threes at a 54.8% clip in their win over the Clippers. CJ McCollum led the way with 23 points, knocking down 5 threes, while Zion Williamson posted a 22-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound triple-double.

Trey Murphy added 21 points, with 13 coming in the 3rd quarter. Zion scored 10 points in the 4th, and Jose Alvarado added 8 of his 14 points in the final period.

Defensively, the Pelicans were strong in the 1st quarter, holding the Clippers to 21 points, but they struggled in the 3rd, giving up 39 points. Overall, they allowed 120 points on 50% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Pelicans limited the Clippers to 14 threes on 33% shooting. They sent the Clippers to the line 18 times, where they made 14 free throws. The Pelicans finished with 7 steals and 7 blocks.

Stay Updated with NBA Game Results! – See how teams perform against the spread.

• Across their five previous home games, New Orleans has an ATS mark of 1-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-3 while averaging 118 points per game.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Pelicans have gone 4-6 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 3-7.
• In their last five games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 1-4 and are 4-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Coming in as the underdogs at +1.5, we have the Pelicans as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 217 and given that our model is projecting 238 points between the teams, we like the over.

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Magic Try to Contain Zion Williamson as They Face the Pelicans

The Orlando Magic will face a tough challenge when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night. Their biggest obstacle? Stopping Zion Williamson, who has been nearly unstoppable despite being on a minutes restriction.

Williamson is coming off his second career triple-double, leading the Pelicans to a 127-120 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. With 22 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, he continues to dominate in every aspect of the game.

Williamson Thriving Despite Limited Minutes

After missing 27 games due to a hamstring injury, the Pelicans have been careful with Williamson’s workload, keeping him out of back-to-back games.

Even with his minutes controlled, he has been a force on the court:

• Recorded his second triple-double in 13 days (27 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds vs. Phoenix on March 2).
• Averaging 22.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists since returning on January 7.
• Played 32+ minutes for only the second time since his return in the win over the Clippers.

Pelicans coach Willie Green praised Williamson’s aggressive approach.

“When he makes up his mind that he’s going to attack, there’s really nothing teams can do,” Green said. “Even in limited minutes, he’s stepping on the floor with an attack mentality.”

The Pelicans have also seen strong offensive balance, with seven double-figure scorers in each of their last three games.

Magic Searching for Consistency Amid Struggles

Orlando has lost six of its last seven games but remains in position for a play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.

Since the start of 2025, the Magic have gone just 10-22, with rebounding issues and inconsistent offense hurting their performance.

In their most recent game, a 97-84 loss to Houston, their weaknesses were on full display:

• Allowed 63 total rebounds, the most they have given up in a game this season.
• Gave up 20 offensive rebounds, which coach Jamahl Mosley called the deciding factor.
• Shot just 32.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.

Mosley stressed the importance of fixing the rebounding issues.

“That was the game right there,” Mosley said. “Twenty offensive rebounds is very difficult to overcome.”

Wendell Carter Jr. believes the team needs to trust its offensive game plan more.

“We have to do a better job of moving the ball from side to side,” Carter said. “We kind of fell into one-pass shots, and that drains a team defensively.”

Orlando Hopes for a Repeat of November Victory

The Magic dominated the Pelicans in their first meeting of the season, a 115-88 win on November 8 that snapped a five-game losing streak and kickstarted a six-game winning streak.

That victory sparked Orlando’s best stretch of the season, as they went 12-1 in their next 13 games.

Now, they hope history repeats itself as they look to turn their season around once again.

Top Contenders in the East – Who’s Leading? – Find out which teams have the best value.

Key Matchups to Watch

Zion Williamson vs. Magic’s Defense

• The Magic had no answer for Williamson last season, and he has only improved.
• His ability to score, pass, and rebound makes him a nightmare matchup.

Magic’s Shooting Woes vs. Pelicans’ Defense

• Orlando shot just 32.6 percent vs. Houston—they cannot afford another cold night.
• New Orleans has allowed 120+ points in back-to-back games.

Rebounding Battle

• The Magic struggled against Houston’s rebounding dominance.
• New Orleans is a top-10 rebounding team and will look to exploit Orlando’s weaknesses.

Final Thoughts: Can Orlando Get Back on Track?

The Magic need a statement win, and beating New Orleans—just like they did in November—could be the spark they need.

However, with Zion Williamson playing at an elite level, Orlando will have to bring its best defensive effort to keep him in check.

Can the Magic snap their losing skid, or will Zion and the Pelicans continue their momentum?

Tip-off is Thursday night in New Orleans.