First Thoughts: Pacers 97 , Magic 87
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 97-87 on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse:
IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George had a team-high 24 points, six rebounds and five assists over 36 minutes. Lance Stephenson was phenomenal in a starting role with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and David West had 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks. Roy Hibbert chipped in eight points, all in the first half, but made his mark with 16 rebounds and seven blocks over a mere 27 minutes. That rest will help Hibbert Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back. Andrew Nicholson shined for Orlando, scoring 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting in 19 minutes. Former Indiana University star Victor Oladipo had a nice NBA debut with 12 points in 23 minutes.
KEY SEQUENCE: The Pacers were up five after three quarters, but broke the game open early in the fourth quarter. Following Luis Scola’s long jumper on the first possession, Ian Mahinmi blocked Oladipo, allowing Indiana to string together five quick points. Three Orlando turnovers, including two travels, helped set up the burst. Scola made two more midrange shots and Orlando Johnson showed off his stroke and added a flashy driving banker and two free throws as the lead ballooned to 17. Johnson finished the period with six points on 2-of-2 shooting. The Pacers outscored Orlando 17-4 over the first 4 1/2 minutes.
BEST OF THE REST: Orlando played without starting forwards Glen Davis and Tobias Harris … Chris Copeland was not a part of the rotation, with Johnson and Solomon Hill getting reserve minutes on the wing and Scola playing exclusively at power forward. … Nikola Vucevic was called for a flagrant foul with 8:11 to play for knocking down Johnson in pursuit of an offensive rebound. … Each team was whistled twice for a delay of game, resulting in a technical free throw for each side.
WHAT WE LEARNED: The Pacers chewed on a young, short-handed Magic squad that was overmatched defensively (and got very little offensively from anyone outside of Nicholson). The Pacers didn’t miss Danny Granger (out three weeks with a strained left calf) thanks to continuity from last season’s starting lineup and more sticky defense. The Pacers led by as much as 19, veteran Rasual Butler made a late cameo and a sellout crowd stood at the end of a lopsided win. The Pacers will trudge to New Orleans for tomorrow night’s meeting with the freshly minted Pelicans, but two days of rest await after that.
