The Indiana Pacers dug themselves out of another 20+ point hole for the third time this season, this time at the expense of the Orlando Magic.
Frank Vogel is hanging by a thread and the Indiana Pacers just added to his and the Orlando Magics’ pain by rallying from a 21-point deficit for a 114-112 win on Saturday night.
This is the third time this season that the Pacers spotted their opponent a 20+ point lead before frantically getting themselves together to pull off a win. The other two were against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
The volatile nature of this season’s Pacers team is both a blessing and a curse as no deficit or lead is ever safe.
This is @Pacers basketball, no lead too safe, no hole too big. It's kinda why it's so fun, crazy runs up and down. Never walk away, never give up.
— NaptownSeth (@NaptownSeth) January 28, 2018
The Bad: Spotting opponents 21-point leads is no way to go through the season, son. In the first 23 minutes of the game, Indiana was outplayed on both ends of the floor by the Magic. They took a 69-48 lead with under a minute left in the first half.
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They outshot the Pacers (61.4% to 43.2%), outrebounded the Pacers (24 to 16), and sported a net rating of 42.7 as the NBA’s 23rd ranked offense and 27th ranked defense beat them down, in every phase of the game.
The Good: But from that point — 42 seconds left in the second quarter — the teams’ fortunes were reversed. It was Indiana outshooting the Magic (65.1% to 45.5%), outrebounding the Magic (22-16), remind us that the Pacers are the NBA’s 7th ranked offense and play average defense.
MVP: Lance Stephenson made his first shot — confidence baby, confidence — and more importantly closed out the fourth quarter with 9 of his 21 points on the night.
LVP: Myles Turner, but considering this is his first game back from injury and he got in foul trouble, it isn’t wise to put too much thought into his performance.
X-Factor: The Pacers were at their best when Thaddeus Young was on the floor, thanks in large part to him limiting Gordon to 7 points after the team’s terrible start.
Next: Physicality is a state of mind for Domantas Sabonis
The Pacers host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, the Grizzlies again on Wednesday, and then the Hornets on the road on Friday.