The New Orleans Pelicans continue their four-game Eastern Conference road trip Thursday when they visit the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center.

The Pelicans (42-26) have been one of the hottest teams in the second half of the season. They are 15-5 since January 31 and have won eight of their last nine games. New Orleans extended their win streak to three Tuesday when they took down the Brooklyn Nets, 104-91, with Zion Williamson tallying 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the victory. Williamson is averaging 22.7 points on 58.4 percent shooting this season, and the two-time All-Star forward has scored 20-plus points in each of his last six games and has averaged 28.5 points on 64.1 percent shooting along with 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 steals over 34.7 minutes per game over that span. The Pelicans currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference standings and are 0.5 games back of the Los Angeles Clippers for fourth.

Their opponents Thursday are also rounding into form late in the season. The Magic (41-28) are 11-3 since the All-Star break and won their fourth straight game Tuesday when they blew out the Charlotte Hornets, 112-92, with Cole Anthony leading the way with 21 points off the bench. Orlando’s success this late in the season has come from its defense, as the team hasn’t allowed its opponent to score 110-plus points since Feb. 13, and the Magic have held their opponents to under 100 points in seven of their last 11 games. The Magic’s 110.9 defensive rating this season is fourth-best in the NBA and has improved to 107.0 over the last 15 games, which is second-best in the Association in that span behind their opposition Thursday, the Pelicans (106.7). Orlando is in a neck-and-neck battle with the New York Knicks for the fourth seed in the East.

Thursday’s contest is the first of two games between the Pelicans and Magic this season. Orlando swept the 2022-23 season series 2-0 and have beaten New Orleans in eight of the last 10 matchups.