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Game Preview: Pacers at Magic

Last Updated: April 7 at 11:45 PM ET

Matchup

It took two months, but the Pacers finally have another winning streak. Indiana (39-40) won its second consecutive game on Thursday night against Milwaukee, the first time the Blue & Gold have won two straight games since their season-best seven-game winning streak came to an end on Feb. 6.

The win moved the Pacers back into the eighth seed in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race. Indiana is tied with Chicago for seventh and a game ahead of ninth-place Miami.

With three games left in the regular season, the Pacers know they likely need to run the table if they want to secure the franchise's sixth postseason berth in the last seven years. The schedule gets a little easier the next two games with matchups against the lottery-bound Magic and 76ers, but both of those games are on the road, where the Pacers are just 11-28 on the season.

The good news for the Pacers is that their All-Star forward is playing his best basketball of the season. Paul George recorded his second straight double-double on Thursday, collecting 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds. George has now scored 20 or more points in each of his last nine games and is shooting over 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range since March 1.

The Magic (28-51) were eliminated from playoff contention long ago, but they're still playing hard under head coach Frank Vogel. Just last week, the Magic took the Celtics — currently battling with Cleveland for the top seed in the East — down to the final buzzer in Boston, leading by as many as 13 points before falling, 117-116. The Pacers certainly can't afford to take Orlando lightly on Saturday night.

Projected Starters

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis

Paul George

Paul George

Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young

Myles Turner

Myles Turner

Elfrid Payton

Elfrid Payton

Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks

Terrence Ross

Terrence Ross

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon

Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vučević

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Magic: PG - Elfrid Payton, SG - Jodie Meeks, SF - Terrence Ross, PF - Aaron Gordon, C - Nikola Vučević

Injury Report

Pacers: Glenn Robinson III - out (sore left calf)

Magic: Evan Fournier – questionable (sore right wrist), Jeff Green – out (sore lower back)

Last Meeting

February 1, 2017: The Pacers picked up a 98-88 win in Orlando, their fourth consecutive victory.

Indiana won thanks to a balanced effort, with nine players scoring between eight and 16 points. C.J. Miles had a team-high 16 points, going 4-for-5 from 3-point range, while Glenn Robinson III tallied 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Serge Ibaka led the Magic with 20 points and nine rebounds. Nikola Vučević recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Noteworthy

  • With a win on Saturday, the Pacers would sweep the season series with Orlando for the third time ever and the first time in a four-game series. Indiana swept three-game series with the Magic in the 2005-06 and 2014-15 seasons.
  • The Pacers have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Magic overall.
  • Indiana has won five consecutive road games at the Amway Center. The Magic last beat the Pacers at home on Feb. 9, 2014.

Tickets

The Pacers will host the Atlanta Hawks for Fan Appreciation Night on Wednesday, April 12 at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan.

Away Game Night Special

Hoop Set - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »