ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Gary Harris made all six 3-point shots to add 22 points, the Orlando Magic postponed the second half of the rally Wednesday night. defeated the Indiana Pacers, 126-120.
Benedict Maturin came off the Pacers’ bench to score 26 points for the second straight game, and Myles Turner added 22 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana. Buddy Hield hit his 3-point shot in his first five and scored 21 points.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds with the Magic. Orlando attempted 15 of his 28 3-pointers from his range and made 56% of his shots overall.
The Pacers trailed 11-0 and never took the lead, suffering their eighth loss in nine games since NBA assists leader Tyrese Haliburton came out with a sprained left knee and left elbow.
Banchero scored 13 points and shot 64% in the Magic’s 46-point first quarter to build a 17-point lead.
Hield hit three 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Pacers came back within two points before trailing 73-68 at halftime.
Orlando regained a double-digit lead just before the third quarter buzzer on a Franz Wagner layup after a length-of-court pass from Jalen Saggs.
The Magic recovered by 17 points early in the fourth quarter and Indiana finished within four in the final minute.
tip in
Pacers: Hield finished with six 3s to lift his NBA-leading total to 191. … Halliburton has missed eight games in a row but could play Friday night. … G Andrew Nemhard missed his second game due to illness.
Magic: F Jonathan Isaac was in his second game after missing two and a half seasons with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, scoring five points and two assists in eight minutes. … Franz Wagner was the only starter to also start in the final game against Indiana on December 16.
next
Pacers: Host Milwaukee on Friday night.
Magic: Friday night in Miami.
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