Sunday, March 10 at 6 p.m. ET at the Kia Center
Game Overview
The Indiana Pacers (35-29) will aim for their first victory on Sunday evening against the Orlando Magic (37-27) this season.
When the Blue and Gold face the Magic for the third and final time, it will have been approximately two and a half months since the teams last met. Recently, the Pacers are going through a crisis following the All-Star break. Although they won their first two games, they have now lost four of their last six games heading into Sunday night’s game.
Although on paper, Indiana ranks number one in the league in scoring (123.3 points per game) and assists (30.8 points per game) compared to 110.9 points and 24.5 assists. Orlando’s decisive games, two unexpected stories were made in previous matchups between the teams when Orlando beat Indiana in both contests at Gainbridge Fieldhouse earlier this season. The Magic make up for what they lack with defensive strength, ranking fourth in the league with a defensive rating of 111.3.
On Thursday, the Pacers suffered a close Defeat 113-111 to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Despite shooting 51.2 percent (42 of 82) from the field compared to Minnesota’s 46.9 percent (46 of 98), the Pacers were ultimately eliminated by the league’s best defense that dominated Indiana 66-60 in the paint and went out of bounds. the home team 48-39.
Pascal Siakam contributed 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting, while Tyrese Haliburton followed closely with 23 points and 13 assists. Additionally, Jalen Smith added 14 points coming off the bench at a perfect 5-of-5 clip.
Siakam has recorded six 20-point games in the Pacers’ last nine games and has averaged 20.6 points in his 23 games in a Pacers uniform. Myles Turner also added significant minutes for the Blue and Gold, contributing four double-doubles and averaging 17 points per game in the Pacers’ last eight matchups.
The Pacers will have had two days off before their match in Orlando.
The Magic enter the game coming off an unusual 98-74 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night. As of February 14, Orlando had won eight of their last nine games heading into Friday night’s contest and was averaging 110 points per game, but ultimately their 34.2 percent shooting (27 of 79) sealed their fate against the Knicks .
All-Star forward Paolo Banchero still finished the contest with a near double-double, recording 23 points and nine rebounds to go along with four blocks. This season, Banchero averaged a team-leading 22.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. When facing Indiana, the forward averaged 29 points in the two meetings between the teams, buoyed by a 34-point outing in their most recent matchup.
The brotherly duo of starting forward Franz Wagner and reserve center Moritz Wagner has been a staple this season. Franz Wagner is averaging 20.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season, while his brother ranks 10th.th in the NBA in points coming off the bench with an average of 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Additionally, the Magic recently climbed to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, while Indiana remains in eighth place.
Projected starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Magic: G – Anthony Black, G – Gary Harris, F – Franz Wagner, F – Paolo Banchero, C – Wendell Carter Jr.
Injury report
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder sprain), Doug McDermott – out (right calf sprain)
Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. – questionable (sore right knee), Jett Howard – out (G League assignment)
Last meeting
December 23, 2023: Indiana fell to the Orlando Magic for the second time in a month when they were defeated, 117-110, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the last meeting between the two teams.
Despite trailing by 14 points at the break, Myles Turner’s 15 points in the third quarter allowed Indiana to get back into the game just in time for the start of the fourth quarter. The Pacers nearly overtook the Magic when they tied it with 10:27 remaining, but Orlando followed up with seven unanswered points to widen the gap again. The Magic held the lead for the rest of the game.
Tyrese Haliburton recorded his 20th double-double of the season as he finished the evening with 29 points and 15 assists. Turner followed with 24 points and seven rebounds, Buddy Hield scored 20 points and Andrew Nembhard added 17 points.
Indiana made 15 of 34 (44.1%) from 3-point range while the Magic made just six 3-pointers on 18 attempts (33.3%). The Magic found significant help from charity shooting 33 of 41, while the Pacers went 9 of 13.
The Magic were led by Paolo Banchero’s 34 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor. Franz Wagner followed with 24 points and six rebounds, while Fishers native Gary Harris recorded 15 points.
Outstanding
- This is the third and final matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Indiana Pacers this season.
- Pacers forward Doug McDermott has missed five straight games with a right calf strain.
- Magic center Goga Bitadze was selected by the Pacers as the 18th pickth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played in 170 games at Indiana from 2019-23.
- Orlando guard Gary Harris graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana.
Broadcast information (TV and Radio Programs >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to kick off a three-game homestand against DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. ET. Find tickets >>
