The Orlando Magic get a second crack at the Indiana Pacers after Saturday’s last-second loss as they look ahead to the end of this road trip and a Thanksgiving break.
Orlando Magic (5-12) at Indiana Pacers (9-6)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line: Pacers by 7
Tickets: $5-$1,167 on StubHub
Season Series: Pacers 114, Magic 113 in Indianapolis on Nov. 19; Tonight in Indianapolis; Jan. 25 in Orlando; Feb. 25 in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 98.9 | 110.6 | 113.5 | 53.6 | 29.3 | 16.6 | 28.8 |
| Indiana | 102.1 | 114.0 | 112.5 | 54.4 | 31.7 | 15.9 | 26.9 |
OMD Prediction
The Orlando Magic saw the thrill of victory and agony of defeat as they faced another pair of close games over the weekend. Jalen Suggs gave the team a game-winning basket for a one-point win in Chicago. Then Franz Wagner missed a layup that would have given the Magic a one-point win and instead left them with a one-point loss.
That is the problem with playing close games. And the problem with the Magic right now. They can do so many things right and it will literally just be a few plays that turn the tide.
In Saturday’s game, Orlando largely controlled the pace playing the game at a pace of 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes. That is how the Magic beat teams like the Pacers, control possessions and limit their own turnovers (another way to limit possessions).
But Indiana still found a way to break through. It came from some timely 3-point shooting and critical rebounds that helped the Pacers pull ahead and win the game. The Magic fight and they will surely fight again, but they will need another fantastic effort.
3 Keys To Watch
Mo Bamba on the boards
The Orlando Magic sat out Wendell Carter on Saturday as he continues to manage pain from a right plantar fascia strain. He is QUESTIONABLE for Monday’s game as of 1 p.m. and coach Jamahl Mosley said he did not go through the team’s shootaround in the morning. It is very likely the Magic will be without their leading rebounder once again.
That is going to put more pressure on Mo Bamba (and Bol Bol) once again to deliver on the glass. That was an area where they were mostly good on Saturday.
But rebounding, usually something the team is at least decent at, was a problem in the game. Orlando had just a 64.7 percent defensive rebound rate. That is giving up an offensive rebound roughly one of every three missed shots.
In general, the Magic have struggled more to rebound with Bamba on the floor. Orlando has a 68.3 percent defensive rebound rate when Bamba is on the floor. That is a poor percentage and goes against the team’s most important defensive trend. The Magic have a 69.4 percent defensive rebound rate with Carter off the floor too.
That is something that is missing and something the Magic need to correct this game if Carter is going to be out.
3-Point Battle
The Orlando Magic are always climbing uphill from beyond the arc. The team is just not a volume 3-point shooting team. That is fine because it does not play to the team’s strengths. They just do not have enough shooters to rely wholly on it. The Magic still want to be confident shooting from deep when they get their chances.
But that puts the team at a deficit. Especially against teams like the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers average 40.3 3-point attempts per game, third-most in the league. They shoot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, ninth in the league. Orlando did not get lucky on Saturday as Indiana made 18 of 46 attempts (39.1 percent). That is more attempts and a better percentage.
The Magic have gotten better from deep — especially Franz Wagner — and made 16 of 42 (38.1 percent) for the game. But is that something the team can rely on? The Magic cannot get into a shootout with teams and try to win consistently.
The Franz-aissance
Franz Wagner has been very good all year long. He is averaging 19.3 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game. Those are astounding numbers.
His field goal percentage has also started to jump up again — he is now shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from deep. His effective field goal percentage of 53.3 percent is better than his 51.7 percent.
That speaks to how well Wagner has been finishing at the rim — Saturday’s game-winning miss notwithstanding. But the 3-point shooting is starting to come around too.
Wagner shot 21.4 percent from beyond the arc in his first 10 games this year. In the last seven, Wagner is shooting 50.0 percent from deep. He has decreased his attempts but is getting more comfortable firing away. He made 2 of 3 in the win over the Chicago Bulls and 5 of 9 in the loss to the Indiana Pacers.
And some of those threes were step-backs, pull-ups and star-making shots. If this part of Wagner’s game has rounded back into form and has elevated his game to a completely new level. It is exciting and feels like it is only starting.
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