The top pick in the 2012 Draft finished the game with 26 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks to help the home side pull away from Orlando in the second quarter.
The visitors had made a bright start to the game, leading by six points midway through the first quarter before Davis and Omer Asik started to lead the Pelicans fightback.
Once New Orleans took the lead in the second period, the Magic never looked like getting back on level terms as the hosts surged to a 23-point lead before Orlando pulled a few points back late on.
Tobias Harris finished the game as the Magic's top scorer, adding 25 points in his 37 minutes on the court, while center Nikola Vucevic picked up 23 rebounds.
Orlando play their first home game of the season tomorrow against the Washington Wizards, while the Pelicans are back in action on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks 100-101 San Antonio Spurs: The San Antonio Spurs have started the defence of their NBA title with a narrow 101-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the AT&T Centre.
The visitors jumped to a lead in the second quarter with Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons both among the points for the Mavericks, but mistakes after the break let San Antonio back into the game.
Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler both argued with the referee to concede technical fouls less than a minute apart, leaving Tim Duncan to close the gap.
Neither side was able to take charge of the fourth quarter, but a three-pointer from Tony Parker with just over a minute to play put the Spurs ahead.
Parsons could have won it at the death for Dallas, but his shot hit the rim with 0.4 seconds remaining to leave the Mavericks a point short.
The Spurs are in action again on Friday at the Phoenix Suns, while the Mavericks host the Utah Jazz tomorrow.
Houston Rockets 108-90 LA Lakers: The Houston Rockets cruised to a 108-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in a heated opening game of the season between the two sides in the NBA at the Staples Center.
The visitors looked the stronger of the two sides from the start as they surged to an 12-point lead by the end of the first quarter, with James Harden leading the way.
The Lakers were boosted by the return of Kobe Bryant, who missed most of last season with knee and Achilles injuries, but his 19-point contribution did little to slow down the Houston attack.
Tempers flared in the fourth quarter when Dwight Howard elbowed Bryant in the face as the pair battled for the ball, resulting in their teammates having to separate the two players.
Things got worse for the Lakers moments after the game resumed when rookie Julius Randle tried to add some consolation points for the hosts late on, but he collided with a pair of Rockets players under the basket, leaving the teenager with a broken leg on his NBA debut.
LA have a chance to put the defeat behind them tonight as they face the Phoenix Suns, while the Rockets also play again later against the Utah Jazz.
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