Indiana Pacers Quit Screwing Around Against the Orlando Magic

The Indiana Pacers need to take care of business tonight against the Orlando Magic to remain in control of their playoff destiny.

Just win, baby: It is as simple as that for the Indiana Pacers as they take on the Orlando Magic tonight. As long as Indiana does that, they stay in control of their playoff destiny.

Terrence Ross put the Magic up early with 3 3-pointers, but it didn’t take long for the Pacers to get back in control of the game as Myles Turner had it going early with 7 points and 2 rebounds in the first five minutes.

The game had almost a preseason feel (it was dead), something that wasn’t helping the Pacers as they had thrived off the playoff intensity of their last few games.

The 3-pointers were keeping it close as the Magic were a perfect 6 of 6 from deep at one point in the first quarter, but missed their final attempt. Orlando shot 58.3% from the field and 85.7% beyond the arc, a big reason why Indiana only led 39-38 at the end of the opening quarter.

On the bright side, Lavoy Allen scored 7 points in just 2:23 time.

Time for the Indiana Pacers to quit screwing around.

The Second Quarter

Paul George, tired of screwing around, went 5 of 7 in the second quarter to push his first half total to 22 points, but the Magic still weren’t going away easily.

It took time, but Indiana pushed their lead out to 9 points, thanks to players like Thaddeus Young (7 of 7, 14 points) and Myles Turner (6 of 7, 11 points) knocking down their shots, the Pacers slowly put distance between them and the Magic.

It didn’t hurt the Magic finally started missing shots, particularly from 3-point range. After going 5 of 6 in the first, they went 1 of 6 in the second quarter.

It is funny to see these two teams in a sprint considering how ugly their first meeting of the season was. That game finished in a 88-69 score, in favor of Indiana.

The 3rd Quarter

The Pacers struggled to put the Magic away in the third, as they matched each other’s baskets on each end, but after playing to a tie in the quarter (21-21), Indiana finally pulled away.

Indiana on went on a 10-2 run to end the quarter, and of course Lance Stephenson finally left his mark on the game as he nailed two 3-pointers, including a buzzer beater. Lance Stephenson was 1 of 12 on 3-pointers this season before coming to Indiana. He is 5 of 7 as a Pacer.

That put Indiana ahead 99-82 going into the fourth quarter.

Next: Miller Time Podcast Episode #185: Whole Lotta Lance Trollin’

Indiana led by as much as 20 in the fourth quarter, but it was really a matter of time for Indiana to pick up the win and take over the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.