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.