INDIANAPOLIS, IND- Following an emotional 108-107 win versus the Bulls in Chicago on November 18th, the Orlando Magic continued their three-game road trip, traveling to Indiana to face the Pacers in a two-game stint. As a result of Star Forwards Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. missing both games to injury, Indiana won both games over Orlando, highlighted by a tight 114-113 win on Saturday, followed by a comfortable 123-102 win on Monday.
In spite of the absences of Banchero and Carter Jr., Orlando played well enough to compete with Indiana down the stretch, as the Magic claimed a 113-109 lead over the Pacers after Franz Wagner made a 28-foot step back jump shot with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter. With just nine seconds left in the game, however, Mo Bamba fouled Aaron Nesmith, who made both free-throws, giving Indiana a 114-113 lead. On Orlando’s final offensive possession, Wagner’s driving layup missed, but Bamba managed to grab the rebound, but his put-back attempt also failed, giving Indiana the narrow one-point victory.
“I don’t think you could ask for a better look,” Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He [Franz] gets all the way to the rim. We had a chance at the offensive rebound. There was a lot of physicality going on down there. … You can’t ask for a better look than that to win the game, basically a layup at the rim.”
While Wagner’s and Bamba’s game-winning shot attempts weren’t meant to be, both players had excellent performances against the Pacers. To begin, Wagner posted a game-high 29 points, five rebounds, and three assists while shooting 9-17 (52.9%) from the field, 5-9 (55.5%) from three-point range, and 6-6 (100.0%) from the free-throw line in 33 minutes. Likewise, Bamba notched 22 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks on 6-14 (42.8%) shooting from the field, including two three-point shots.
Outside of Wagner and Bamba, breakout star Bol Bol recorded 22 points and eleven rebounds in 34 minutes, his sixth double-double of the season. Second-year guard Jalen Suggs had another good game, finishing with 12 points, a team-high eight assists, and even three blocks, while RJ Hampton added 14 points on 5-8 (62.5%) shooting off the bench.
In addition to his game-winning free-throws, Nesmith had 19 points, three rebounds, and a team-high five three-pointers. Star Guard Tyrese Haliburton posted his tenth double-double of the season, finishing the game with a team-high 22 points and 14 assists on 9-16 (56.3%) shooting from the field. Outside of Haliburton, three of Indiana’s four other starters notched double-digit points, which were Buddy Hield (15/2/2), Jalen Smith (14/5/0), and Myles Turner (20/11/1). Former 2022 No. 6 Bennedict Mathurin continued his solid play, notching 12 points off the bench.
As a team, Orlando was quite efficient, going 39-91 (42.9%) from the field, 16-42 (38.1%) from three-point range, and 19-26 (73.1%) from the free-throw line. Likewise, Indiana shot 41-90 (45.6%) from the field, 18-46 (39.1%) from three-point range, and 14-19 (73.7%) from the free-throw line. Both Orlando and Indiana had modest turnover and personal foul amounts, as the Magic committed eleven turnovers and 17 personal fouls, while the Pacers committed 15 turnovers and 18 personal fouls.
Just two days after their crushing one-point loss to the Pacers, the Magic seeked to avenge that loss on Monday in Indiana. As it turns out, Orlando was unable to do so, suffering a 102-123 loss to Indiana behind Haliburton’s eleventh double-double of the season. After notching 22 points and 14 assists on Saturday, Haliburton proceeded to have 18 points and 14 assists against Orlando on Monday, and was one of six Pacers to have double-digit points. Most notably, Mathurin scored a team-high 22 points off the bench, while Oshae Brissett recorded a season-high 18 points on 5-9 (55.6%) shooting from the field. T.J. McConnell (19/10/3), Isaiah Jackson (10/8/1), and Turner (10/5/3) also had double-digit points.
Similar to Haliburton, Wagner followed his initial 29/5/3 game versus Indiana with 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 6-11 (54.5%) shooting from the field. Bamba managed to add 15 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes, while Suggs had 12 points and a season-high four steals. Bol nearly had his seventh double-double of the season, as he notched nine points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes, and Admiral Schofield had a season-high ten points off the bench.
It’s worth noting that Veteran Guard Gary Harris made his NBA debut, and dropped an impressive 18 points and three three-point shots in 23 minutes. For reference, Harris was sidelined indefinitely during the offseason with a Torn Meniscus. Meanwhile, Banchero and Carter Jr. have joined an extensive list of players hurt for Orlando. As of November 22nd, Orlando is still without Jonathan Isaac (Hamstring), Cole Anthony (Oblique), Banchero (Ankle), Mortiz Wagner (Foot), and Carter Jr (Foot), while Chuma Okeke is day-to-day with Left Knee Soreness.
As a team, Orlando was quite efficient once again, going 36-85 (42.4%) from the field, 11-35 (31.4%) from three-point range, and 19-25 (76.0%) from the free-throw line. Likewise, Indiana shot 43-86 (50.0%) from the field, 13-46 (28.3%) from three-point range, and 24-27 (88.9%) from the free-throw line. Unlike Saturday’s game, Orlando and Indiana struggled with turnovers and personal fouls. For reference, the Magic committed 17 turnovers and 25 personal fouls, while the Pacers committed 21 turnovers and 23 personal fouls.
Following their two-game stint in Indiana, Orlando will return to the Amway Center to welcome the Philadelphia 76ers (8-8, 9th in Eastern Conference) on November 25th at 7:00 PM ET. Meanwhile, Indiana continues its three-game homestand as the Minnesota Timberwolves are set to play them on November 23rd at 7:00 PM ET.