NEW ORLEANS — The visiting Orlando Magic dealt the Pelicans a 122-105 preseason-opening loss at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans Tuesday night.
The Pels held a one-point lead at the half, 68-67, after leading by 12 at the end of the first quarter. But New Orleans shot 41-percent from the field – which included going 8 of 34 from 3-point range (23.5 percent) and got outscored 34-18 in the fourth.
Brandon Ingram, who played 17 minutes, led the Pels with 14 points followed by C.J. McCollum and returning Zion Williamson with 12 points each.
The injury-plagued Williamson, who missed all but 29 games last season due to a hamstring injury, played 15 minutes and also recorded five rebounds and five assists.
Despite the loss, Pelicans head coach Willie Green was happy with what he saw from both Williamson and the starters in the first half.
"I thought he was great, he looked good," Green said of Williamson after the game. "He does what he does. He gets on the floor and creates contact. His gravity gets guys open looks.
"Like I said, I thought the first half looked pretty solid for us."
Magic center Wendell Carter, Jr., topped Orlando scorers with 18 points in 19 minutes.
The Pels (0-1) host Houston in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday before finishing their four-game preseason schedule at Atlanta on Saturday and in Orlando for a rematch against the Magic next Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The Magic (1-0) travel to Cleveland on Thursday.
New Orleans opens the regular season in Memphis, Oct. 25 before returning to SKC three days later to host the Knicks in their season home-opener on Oct. 28.
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