Dec. 14 at Orlando: Magic 108, Pacers 96
Pacers can't close the deal down the stretch
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END RESULT
Leading by two with just under 5 minutes remaining, the Pacers were once again in position to win.
But a familiar malady resurfaced, the offense went dry thereafter and the Magic scored the next 12 points to claim a 106-98 victory Monday in Amway Arena. The Pacers did not make a basket in the final 4:58 after T.J. Ford's jumper put them ahead 96-94.
IMPACT
The Pacers had their two-game win streak snapped and dropped to 8-14 overall, 3-8 on the road. The Magic ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 18-6.
TURNING POINTS
The Pacers jumped out early with a 17-2 run to build a big first-quarter cushion. Orlando shot just 25 percent for the first 14 minutes of the game as the Pacers built a 36-19 lead early in the second quarter. But the Magic began working their way back behind Dwight Howard's repeated trips to the foul line and a strong production from the bench. A 9-2 Orlando run cut the lead to 38-28 but that was just a warmup. The Magic soon went off on a 17-0 run, with Howard scoring eight, to take a 47-44 lead. Though the Pacers recovered to lead 54-53 at the break, their strong early work was undone.
The second half was close throughout, with seven ties and 11 lead changes. The Pacers' biggest lead of the second half was 81-75 late in the third. After Ford's baseline jumper put Indiana in front 96-94, Vince Carter converted two trips to the line to give the Magic a 98-96 lead. The Pacers then had two wide-open looks at 3-pointers but Mike Dunleavy missed and, after Tyler Hansbrough's offensive rebound, Brandon Rushed also missed. Rashard Lewis didn't, draining an unchallenged 3-pointer to give Orlando a 101-96 lead with 2:11 left.
After Ford missed a short baseline jumper, J.J. Redick iced it with a 3-pointer with 1:27 remaining.
BY THE NUMBERS
Mike Dunleavy started for the first time this season and scored a season-high 26 points in 33 minutes, making 10-of-19 shots, adding four rebounds and two assists. Troy Murphy scored 14 and T.J. Ford 13 with seven assists and six rebounds. Shooting guards Brandon Rush and Dahntay Jones combined to go 4-of-15 from the field. Tyler Hansbrough had eight points and six rebounds off the bench. The Pacers shot .477 overall but were just 7-of-22 from the 3-point line and were outscored 25-7 from the free-throw line. They had 26 assists and just 10 turnovers.
Orlando was carried by Dwight Howard, who had his third 20-20 game of the season with 21 points and 23 rebounds, adding four blocks. He made just four field goals but was 13-of-22 from the line. Vince Carter carried the offense early, scoring 14 of the Magic's first 17 and wound up with 28 on 10-of-21 shooting, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Redick and Anthony Johnson scored 13 each off the bench. Orlando shot just .419, including 9-of-29 from the arc, but committed just six turnovers.