Game Recap
The Pacers won their second straight preseason game on Thursday night, holding off the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 97-92.
While the Pacers rested most of their key players in the fourth quarter, Orlando elected to roll with its veterans for much of the final period. The Magic left four starters and top draft pick Mario Hezonja in the game until the 2:55 mark.
Still, Indiana's reserves held their own. The Blue & Gold closed the contest with a 13-5 run to seal the victory. The Magic managed to climb within one on Shabazz Napier's deep 3-pointer with 1:50 to play, but second-year forward Glenn Robinson III answered with a three of his own 14 seconds later that proved to be the dagger.
Earlier in the night, the big storyline was the Pacers' point guard play. With starter George Hill out for Thursday's game with a sprained ankle, shooting guard Monta Ellis slid over to the point. Ellis got off to a rough start, committing three turnovers in the first quarter, but recovered nicely.
Ellis finished with 12 points and seven assists, going 6-for-7 from the free throw line in 23:17. He did not have another turnover after the first quarter.
"It's pretty much the same (mentality)," Ellis said about running the point after the game. "(Be a) playmaker, (Run) screen-and-rolls, make the right play.
"Guys did a great job of screening, getting open, getting in my vision. I was able to find them (and) they (were) able to knock the shots down."
In his postgame press conference, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel gave Ellis a glowing review.
"I thought he was terrific," Vogel said. "I thought he was in attack mode, aggressive, and made the right reads. He didn't force anything. He had seven assists, but if guys were making shots tonight, he could have had 12, 13 assists."
Starting forwards Paul George and C.J. Miles combined for 27 points, but it took them a lot of shots to reach those figures. The duo combined to make just 9-of-31 shots from the field and 3-of-17 attempts from 3-point range.
Robinson finished with 14 points, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
"My shot feels great," Robinson said. "I've been working at it. Me and Solo(mon Hill), we worked with (renowned shooting coach) Hal Wissel...I just feel a lot more confident right now."
Reserve forward Jordan Hill added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and seven rebounds. Starting center Ian Mahinmi knocked down all four of his shots and finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Former Indiana University All-American Victor Oladipo had a game-high 15 points for the Magic, who led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter before relinquishing their lead in the second half. Tobias Harris added 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Nikola Vučević had 13 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
The Pacers don't return to the floor until Tuesday, Oct. 12, when they host the Detroit Pistons in the final preseason contest at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indiana closes the preseason with two road contests and a game vs. Charlotte in Fort Wayne).
Inside the Numbers
First round draft pick Myles Turner logged 15:07, finishing with six points on 3-of-7 shooting and four rebounds.
Second round pick Joe Young played 19:09 backing up Ellis at the point, scoring nine points and dishing out four assists. After racking up four turnovers in each of his first two preseason games, Young did not turn the ball over once on Thursday.
After committing 32 turnovers over their first two preseason games, Indiana had just nine giveaways against Orlando.
Napier, who hit the game-winning shot in Orlando's win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Louisville, led all reserves with 13 points. The second-year point guard made 4-of-5 shots, including all three of his 3-point attempts.
You Can Quote Me On That
"I think everybody's starting to get a rhythm...(It's still) preseason, but by the time the season gets here, everybody will be on the same page and we'll get rhythm." -Ellis
"It was pretty cool. Especially to be out there with those type of caliber guys in the first quarter, getting runs with the starters, that's always something that I want. And I want to get to that level where I stay there." -Robinson on his first start as a Pacers player
"The speed's coming pretty easy, especially just getting some practice reps and going out there with my second group. The physicality, I've got to get more used to that, of course. That's just going to keep coming with maturity, but I'm feeling pretty good." -Turner on how he's adjusting to the NBA game
"You've got to have consistency in what you believe in. I'm consistent in my hard work, I'm consistent in my work ethic, and I believe in that. So when I go on the court, I think it just shows from my hard work." -Oladipo on what he's learned so far in the NBA
Noteworthy
- Second-year Pacers forward Shayne Whittington played 5:34 before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle.
- In addition to George Hill, the Pacers were also without forward Solomon Hill (sprained left ankle) and Chase Budinger (sore hamstring). Budinger has missed all three preseason games thus far, but Vogel was optimistic pregame that he would be available for Tuesday's game against Detroit.
- Rookie forward Kadeem Jack, who signed with Indiana on Wednesday, did not play in Thursday's contest.
Up Next
The Pacers return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday to host Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons. Find Tickets »