Orlando Magic Grades: Indiana Pacers 121, Orlando Magic 109

The Orlando Magic played with better energy thanks in part to a lineup change. But it was not enough as the Indiana Pacers pulled away at the end.

The Orlando Magic had a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter. They were fighting and scrapping to stay in the game and chase the Indiana Pacers’ lead.

Victor Oladipo was hitting everything he threw at the rim. He did not seem capable of missing, hitting shots over two defenders and banking in 3-pointers. Those were backbreaking and hurt the team.

And slowly as the Pacers began hitting those shots and not even a more energetic defense was creating the stops the team needed, the Magic let go of the rope. Orlando could not generate offense with the team’s two stalwart veterans in Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier unable to get themselves going — on either end.

That one-point lead evaporated quickly. It grew to six points and eight points, where Indiana held the lead for most of the game. Then suddenly it was 17 points. The Magic were toast. The Pacers just buried them behind a barrage of 3-pointers as the Magic simply watched.

Orlando fell to Indiana 121-109 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday, losing the team’s ninth straight game and 11th in the last 13 outings.

Nothing seemed enough to get Orlando to the finish line. Not a lineup change — Jonathon Simmons starting for Terrence Ross. Not a more energetic defense. And not a close game. Orlando still wilted and eventually could not get themselves back in the win column.

Indiana shot 53.2 percent from the floor still despite whatever improved defense Orlando might have had. It was a mere moral victory. The team took longer to let themselves get blown out.

The Magic’s offense struggled to find its footing for stretches. Going cold to allow Indiana to get out in transition and increase the lead. Orlando would inevitably get things back under control and go on enough of a run to stay in contact. Until the end of the third quarter when a spurt from D.J. Augustin brought the Magic within one to end the quarter.

Orlando looked ready to go step for step with Indiana.

But the Magic shot 43.5 percent from the floor for the game and just 9 for 22 (40.9 percent) in the fourth quarter. Indiana scored 36 points as the defense finally let go. The Magic were unable to get to the finish line.

Next: Orlando Magic still searching for an answer at point guard

The Orlando Magic finished their tough road stretch 1-9. The task is not any easier as they come home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Amway Center on Wednesday.