The Magic returned home Wednesday night to face a red hot Indiana Pacers team. Even after losing 10 of their last 11, they were able to find a way to cool them off, winning 97-86. The Pacers were giving up an average of just 89 points a game so the Magic almost reaching 100 is quite an accomplishment.
The Magic led by as many as 21 in the third quarter. At halftime the Magic were up 51-35. The game was never really close as the Magic led early and built upon it. The story of the game was one Magic fans remember quite well, a barrage of three pointers. The Magic went 12 of 21 from beyond the arc. J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson both went 4 for 6 from three point land to lead the shooting effort. The Magic had five players in double figures and were once again led by Nikola Vucevic who secured his eighth straight double-double bringing down 15 rebounds to go along with his 16 points. His development continues to be huge for the Magic and may even have some fans saying, "Dwight who?"
The Pacers struggled all night. Paul George continued to play well scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 boards. Part of the struggles were three point shooting. The Pacers hit on only 2 of their 17 attempts from downtown. The biggest struggle of the night though was bench scoring. Of the six players who came off the bench for a total of 86 playing minutes only two scored, and they only scored a combined 20 points. That kind of production will not get it done in the NBA and cost the Pacers Wednesday night.
For the Magic the win makes two out of their last three games, beating two eventual playoff teams. The Magic look to make it three out of four when they take on the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night at 7:00 p.m. ET inside the Amway Arena.
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