ORLANDO, Fla. — It was an emotional afternoon Sunday inside Kia Center when the Orlando Magic welcomed back Moe Wagner back to the court after he spent more than a year rehabbing a torn ACL in his left knee.

Orlando leaned on that energy early against the New Orleans Pelicans but lacked defensive intensity throughout much of the rest of the contest.

That was until late in the fourth quarter when Jamahl Mosley’s squad came up with key defensive stops down the stretch to escape with a 128-118 victory in front of a sold-out home crowd.

New Orleans used a 39-point third quarter to post 98 points through the first three frames but Orlando responded and outscored the Western Conference foe 37-20 across the final 12 minutes.

Although the Pelicans had six different players score 11-plus points, including a team-high 22 from forward Zion Williamson, Orlando’s Desmond Bane (27 points), Anthony Black (26) and Paolo Banchero (23) combined for 76 in the 10-point victory

New Orleans (9-33) scored 25 points off 13 takeaways but also turned the ball over 16 times for 27 Orlando points.

The Magic (22-18) will travel across the pond this week when they head to Berlin to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

Starting 5

Although Wagner made his return, the Magic were still without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (right knee MCL bruise) against the Pelicans. In the hours leading up to tip-off, Wendell Carter Jr. (right hip strain) was also ruled out.

Rookie Noah Penda made his second straight start when Goga Bitadze was moved into the opening lineup alongside regulars Banchero, Desmond Bane and Anthony Black.

Bane scored five of the team’s first 10 points when he knocked down his first 3-pointer and penetrated the paint early. He posted a 13-point first half before adding 10 more after the break.

Black pieced together a 10-point second quarter to post an efficient 14 before the break on 5-for-6 shooting from the floor. He added seven assists while hitting a trio of triples.

Banchero was aggressive to get his spots on the floor when he added eight rebounds and eight assists. He and Black, however, both turned the ball over four times.

Bitadze made his presence felt on both ends around the rim, recording a double-double by way of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Welcome back Moe

The Magic backup center received a standing ovation when he entered the game with 2:43 left in the first quarter.

His first points in 386 days were scored on a drive to the paint early in the second quarter when he converted an and-one opportunity. On a minutes restriction, Wagner played 10 minutes in the game.

Providing his usual energy off the bench, he notched eight points, two rebounds and two assists.

Da Silva dynamic

Tristan da Silva only scored four points on four free throws in the first half.

But during the third quarter?

The third-year pro found his footing on offense when hit knocked down all four of his long-range buckets to score 12 points out of halftime. He ended with 16 in 19 minutes.

Rookie watch

Penda hit a 3-pointer from the right corner on the opening possession of the game. It was a lone make of the first when he shot 1 for 5 from the floor.

The second-round pick hit from distance in the left corner to start the second half when he racked up nine points and six rebounds in 38 minutes.

First-round pick Jase Richardson hit a 3 in the second quarter but only played seven minutes.

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