The Orlando Magic beat the Indiana Pacers for the second time in less than a week, and this time it was a high scoring battle.
ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic overcame the Indiana Pacers in a high scoring affair on Sunday with a 135-127 win.
All of Orlando’s starters finished in double figures, as Desmond Bane, Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black combined for 86 points. Center Wendell Carter Jr. Added 18 points and forward Tristan da Silva contributed 10. The Magic were also able to withstand a push by the Pacers late as Indiana cut the deficit to three points with 1:32 remaining in regulation.
“I mean, there was some poise,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game. “Understanding what we were trying to accomplish down the stretch, who had the hot hand versus being able to share it, making some plays down on the back end of the game I thought was really good for our guys.”
In the end, the Magic were able to make enough plays on offense to make up for a lackluster defensive outing. Orlando finished the game with 34 assists and only seven turnovers and made stops when it mattered the most.
“I mean, our ability to get downhill; get to the free throw line,” Mosley added. “We shared it, we moved it, we trusted the pass. Our defense was not what it needed to be, you know, and I think there's games like that in the league.”
“But our ability to sit down and get stops is what we've got to continue to hang our hat on. But our guys, you know, stayed with it, stayed the course and just found a way down the stretch.”
The Magic allowed the Pacers to lead by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but once they found their offensive rhythm, possessions became fruitful.
“I mean, it's something that we've talked about, you know, especially leading up to this game, just how we can execute better down the stretch and just in half-court situations,” Bane said after leading his team with 31 points on 70 percent shooting. “Like you said, I thought we did a much better job.”
Orlando also received key contributions from Jase Richardson, who led the bench unit with 12 points.
“I thought he was big time,” Mosley said. “I thought he did a great job with his energy, his efforts, toughness, being able to push the play, the pace. I just really loved that he plays with a level of confidence and toughness about him, you know, throughout the entire night on both sides of the ball.”
Bane attributed the big night he had with his teammates to the effectiveness of the Magic’s ball movement.
“34 assists,” he said. “You know, when the ball moves, everybody eats. That was kind of something that we were talking about in the time out.” “Everybody eats. I mean, you look up and down the board and just about everybody had an efficient night. We're helping each other, making each other better on that end. And that's something that we're going to have to continue to do if we want to be a good offensive team.”
The Magic’s game against the Pacers was but a brief stop at home before the team embarks on a road trip that features a pair of games against the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets. Despite the poor record Washington possesses, Bane is not undermining them.
“Yeah, we're going in there [and] playing a good team,” Bane said. “They're playing good basketball; playing with a lot of confidence, especially as of late. So, it's not going to be easy, but we're going to have to do it together; continue to share the ball.”
“I think we had 34 assists tonight [and] seven turnovers. That's got to travel; that's got to carry over and then be better on the defensive end. It'll give us a chance.”