Orlando Magic Grades: Indiana Pacers 127, Orlando Magic 112
The Indiana Pacers got on an offensive role and the Orlando Magic could not stop them, getting a critical win for the Pacers’ playoff hopes.
The Orlando Magic needed something to slow down Paul George after a 22-point first half. Halftime should have brought with it a new strategy and a new focus. With the Magic hoping to simulate, or at least match, the Indiana Pacers’ playoff intensity, the Magic were trying to pretend there was a lot on the line.
George helped put that thought to rest in the first few possessions of the second half. He drained a 3-pointer over the defense and then collected a steal for a runout dunk for five quick points. The Pacers opened up as much as a 16-point lead and held off a third-quarter Magic rally, punctuated by Lance Stephenson hitting a stepback 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer.
The Pacers were indeed the team playing for the Playoffs. The Magic are indeed not.
That was born out on the court in a 127-112 Pacers win over the Magic at Amway Center on Saturday. Indiana simply picked Orlando apart bit by bit, waiting for the team’s offense to slow after a blistering start.
The Magic were never going to be able to keep up with the Pacers. Not with seemingly every number going in their favor.
George finished with 37 points on 14-for-22 shooting, making four of his nine 3-pointers. That led the way for the Pacers in a game where they shot 59.3 percent and 11 for 22 from beyond the arc.
The Pacers constantly attacked the Magic, forcing switches and they exploited the miscommunication and confusion. Indiana finished 64 points in the paint, continuing to destroy Orlando’s interior defense.
The Magic never could get their defense going to stop the Pacers. Even with their own offense humming along decently.
But Orlando is not going to outscore anybody. Even when making 14 of 30 3-pointers and shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and scoring 38 points in the first quarter. Orlando was inevitably going to slow down. And that cost the team in the end.
B+. From the first shot, <strong><a rel=. G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS
B-. Similar to Terrence Ross, <strong><a rel=. G/F. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER
NIKOLA VUCEVIC. C. <strong><a rel=. C. Orlando Magic
C. The point guard in the NBA is increasingly the head of the snake defensively. Teams need strong dribble penetration from the point guard position to get offenses going. The Magic get that part from <strong><a rel=. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON
B+. Paul George was certainly locked in from the beginning of the game, scoring 22 of his 37 points in the first half. George was on fire and the Magic could not come up with a scheme to stop him. Eventually, they tried overloading the strong side and sending extra bodies at him. But he passed over it pretty easily.<p>The Pacers recorded 35 assists for the game on 51 makes, shooting 59.3 percent from the field and 11 for 22 from beyond the arc. It was an offensive clinic for Indiana. A “layup drill” as Evan Fournier called it. The defense for the Magic was unacceptable and Indiana exploited it.</p><p>Orlando was able to keep pace for a time. But in the second quarter, it always felt like Indiana was about to take full and final control. The Pacers finally did that in the third quarter. Despite one last run from the Magic, the Pacers put the game away with ease.</p>. 40-40. 7th East. INDIANA PACERS