It was nearly a case of Deja Vu as the Indiana Pacers let another 4th quarter lead evaporate, but were able to hold on to secure a necessary victory over the Orlando Magic.
Coming off a very difficult overtime loss against the Miami Heat on Monday night, you knew the Pacers were determined to avoid an 0-2 start to their 4-game road trip. The Pacers had lost 7 of their last 8 games on the road, so it was imperative they regain their confidence away from Banker’s Life Fieldhouse and get rolling in the Magic Kingdom. All five starters had a positive +/- (the lowest being +15 for George Hill) and got to the free throw line for 29 attempts, hitting 25 overall. The Pacers have now defeated the Magic 6 straight times. Eat it Mickey.
The Good: The Pacers were able to withstand a late rally by the Magic and avoid another 4th quarter letdown by shoring up the pitfalls they had against Miami. Things got interesting down the stretch, but key free throws and several defensive stops allowed them to close it out. Great to see the team get out of the gate strong once again, staring with an 11-2 lead after the tip. Holding the Magic to 19% (6-31) from long range was a thing of beauty. It was as if the Pacers stopped defending the 3 in the 2nd half, knowing it was bound for brick town.
The Bad: Careless turnovers (17) wreaked havoc once again, causing the Pacers to score just 37 points in the 1st half. Most of the fast break attempts broke down and were terribly out of sync.
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MVP: Monta Ellis. His key steals, made free throws and crucial jumpers helped sealed the win. His game improves dramatically when he’s paired up with George Hill in the backcourt, making him a dual threat playmaker from inside and out.
LVP: CJ Miles. He shot 1-10 and most of his looks were out of rhythm and heavily defended. Good to see him back after a right shoulder injury knocked him out in the 1st quarter against Miami, but he might have needed another night off to rest up.
X-Factor: George Hill. He couldn’t miss from beyond the arc (3-3) and was one of the few Pacers who never turned the ball over. Here’s hoping he brought a chef with him on the road this week.