Dennis Neumann and Richie Adubato will answer the Magic Radio Internet question of the night during every game this season. E-mail your question to MagicRadio@orlandomagic.com. E-mailers could win a chance to sit courtside at a Magic home game with Dennis and Richie!
ORLANDO (AP) -- Vince Carter scored 21 points and the Orlando Magic remained unbeaten in the preseason with a 117-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
The Magic (7-0) play Atlanta on Friday night, hoping to finish off the first undefeated exhibition season in franchise history.
Marcin Gortat added 15 points and Brandon Bass had 14 for the Magic. Dwight Howard had 14 points, but he continued to struggle at the free throw line, making only six of 16. He has shot just 50.7 percent from the line during preseason.
"It feels good to be winning - and we're headed in the right direction - but it really doesn't mean anything at this point,'' Howard said. "I'm happy with our progress, but we're still 0-0 when the season starts.''
Howard got poked in the right eye by Solomon Jones with 7:18 remaining, temporarily causing a vision problem, although he stayed in the game for three more minutes. After the game, the eye was bloodshot, but he was seeing clearly. "I'll be all right,'' he said. "But it was pretty bad for awhile.''
Roy Hibbert scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half for Indiana. Troy Murphy added 15 rebounds for the Pacers, who were without T.J. Ford (left hamstring), Luther Head (sore back), and Jeff Foster (sore back).
"They (Magic) have so many All-Stars on that team that I lose count,'' said Indiana's Danny Granger, who had 11 points. "They probably will go far again this season. They are good team, and a veteran team.''
Orlando was missing All-Star forward Rashard Lewis, who will start the regular season serving a 10-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug agreement last spring. Lewis also won't play Friday as the Magic try and prepare for the start of the season without him.
"Missing Rashard at the start, we're going to have to do some juggling,'' said forward Matt Barnes, who replaced Lewis in the starting lineup Wednesday. "Right now, we're just trying to find a groove without him. Being unbeaten sounds nice, but we're just trying to improve. That's what's important.''
NOTES: Magic center Adonal Foyle, who hardly practiced since the start of training camp, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Foyle, who played in only 10 games combined last season between the Magic and the Grizzlies, was re-signed this summer as insurance behind Dwight Howard and Gortat. ... The Pacers will finish their exhibition schedule Friday at storied Assembly Hall on the University of Indiana campus. They will play the Spurs.
Preview: ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic (6-0) return home on Wednesday to face the Indiana Pacers (2-3) at 7 p.m. ET.
Indiana was bit hard by the injury bug this offseason. First round draft pick Tyler Hansbrough suffered a shin injury and swingman Mike Dunleavy had a setback in his rehab, straining a knee ligament during training camp. Both players are expected to miss at least the first month of the season.
To compensate, Indiana is relying on the improvement of second-year shooting guard Brandon Rush as well as several of their new additions such as Dahntay Jones, Earl Watson and Solomon Jones.
Although none of their free agent acquisitions are huge names, Pacers President Larry Bird believes they will help Indiana improve on the defensive end of the floor.
Still, it’s no secret that this squad will go as far as All-Star forward Danny Granger takes them.
“He plays at a high level, shoots the ball well, plays in the post very well and defends,” Vince Carter explained. “He’s another guy playing with a lot of confidence and it shows in his stats.”
Magic All-Star forward Rashard Lewis knows the biggest challenge in this contest will be finding a way to limit Granger.
“He can score the ball anywhere on the floor,” Lewis said. “He can shoot the ball, he can get to the basket and he’s a pretty good post-up player. He’s athletic and it’s tough to defend a guy like that, especially when you’re running off picks, because if you leave him open for a split second, he’ll shoot the three. He’s one of those guys that on the offensive end of the floor is very tough to guard.”
Game Notes: Oct. 21 vs. Indiana (PRESEASON): Orlando is 34-40 vs. Indiana (22-15 at home, 12-25 at Indiana) during regular season action…The Magic went 3-1 last season against the Pacers...Orlando is 3-1 all-time during the preseason vs. Indiana…Orlando is 4-6 vs. Indiana in the playoffs (1994 First Round, 1995 East Finals)...The Magic have won five of the last six meetings between the two clubs...Orlando has won six of the last eight matchups at home and have split the last four meetings in Indiana…Anthony Johnson played 211 games during three seasons with Indiana from 2003-06…Brendan Malone served as an assistant coach for the Pacers for three seasons from 2000-03.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. PACERS: 49 pts., Shaquille O’Neal (@ Indiana, 12-9-93)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 38 pts., Jermaine O’Neal (@ Indiana, 1-15-05); Reggie Miller (@ Indiana, 4-2-94; @ Orlando, 4-6-90)
NBA.COM is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.
Advertise on NBA.com | Career Opportunities | Help
