Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indiana Pacers Media Availability | November 18, 2023
By Raegan Walsh
Game Preview
The Pacers (7-4) return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tomorrow to face the Orlando Magic (7-5) for the first time this season following a pair of back-to-back matchups in Philadelphia.
After falling short on Sunday, Indiana got revenge on the then East-leading Sixers with a 132-126 victory to snap Philadelphia’s seven-game win streak and cap off what has become Indiana’s best 11-game start since the 2020-21 season.
To nobody’s surprise, it was Tyrese Haliburton that led the way in both of the matchups as he wrote his name in the history books once again. After recording a team-high 33 points, 15 assists, and zero turnovers in the victory on Tuesday, Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to record multiple games with 25+ points, 15+ assists and zero turnovers, doing so in consecutive games.
With Haliburton pitching in 24.7 points per game, Indiana’s eight players who average 10 or more points per game have moved full steam ahead towards a league-leading offensive output of 126.5 points per game. Orlando enters the matchup second to last in the NBA, averaging 105.8 points per contest.
Just as Indiana has gotten off to a quick start this season, the Magic have fallen right behind them in the Eastern Conference rankings as Orlando began the season 7-5. The Blue and Gold will face Orlando after the Magic earned two close wins in Chicago on Wednesday and Friday.
Magic forward Franz Wagner, who recorded 17 points in Wednesday’s win including the game winning jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining, is contributing a team-leading average of 18.5 points for Orlando. Paolo Banchero is adding 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Former Pacer Goga Bitadze contributed an impressive performance on Wednesday as he pitched in 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Pacers will continue to lean on their reserves Sunday afternoon as they are averaging a league-best 49.6 points and have outscored their opposition reserves, 546-326, in their 11 games this season. Buddy Hield, who ranks 12th in the NBA for 3-pointers made this season, leads the bench in scoring averaging 12.1 points, while Aaron Nesmith is shooting a team-leading 46.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Bruce Brown, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Obi Toppin, C - Myles Turner
Magic: G - Anthony Black, G - Gary Harris, F - Franz Wagner, F - Paolo Banchero, C - Goga Bitadze
Injury Report
Pacers: Andrew Nembhard - out (sore lower back)
Magic: Jalen Suggs – probable (sore left knee), Wendell Carter Jr. – out (left third metacarpal fracture), Markelle Fultz – out (left knee tendinitis)
Last Meeting
Though trailing by a point at halftime, a 17-2 scoring run four minutes into the second half gave the Pacers the momentum needed to finish the matchup with the advantage as Indiana defeated the Magic, 121-108, in Orlando. After prevailing over the Magic February 25, the Pacers finished last season’s four-game series with Orlando, 3-1.
Indiana was guided by center Myles Turner’s 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor. Tyrese Haliburton recorded his 28th double-double of the 2022-23 season with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and a team-high 14 assists.
Bennedict Mathurin and Jordan Nwora led the Indiana reserves in outscoring the Orlando reserves, 56-40, with 19 points and 18 points respectively. Nwora also added eight rebounds and five assists in his fourth game with the Pacers after being traded from Milwaukee.
Magic forward Franz Wagner notched 21 points on the night, while forward Paolo Banchero followed behind with 19 points.
Noteworthy
- Indiana reached 120 points for the seventh time this season on Tuesday in their win over the Sixers. The seven-game streak is the franchise’s longest streak of consecutive games where the Pacers have scored 120 points or more.
- The Pacers have defeated the Magic in 10 of the last 13 matchups with Orlando, including three of the four matchups between the two teams last season.
- Myles Turner needs one 3-pointer to tie Billy Keller (506) at fourth place in the franchise ranks for most 3-point field goals.
- Magic center Goga Bitadze was selected 18th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by Indiana and played 21 games for the Pacers last season before being waived February 9, 2023. After signing with the Magic four days later, Bitadze made his debut with Orlando during the most recent matchup between the two teams on February 25.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
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), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>