Magic can't overcome slow start in 120-109 loss to Pacers
ORLANDO, Fla. — A poor start put the Orlando Magic in a bad spot. Too many turnovers helped keep them there.
The Magic trailed by 16 less than five minutes into the game and played nearly the entire game with a double-digit deficit as they absorbed a 120-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night at ESPN Wide World of Sports’ Visa Athletic Center.
Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and Aaron Gordon and Terrence Ross each finished with 20 points for Orlando (32-36), which fell to 0-3 this season against Indiana (42-26).
Ross was scoreless in the first half.
Magic coach Steve Clifford was concerned before the game about keeping the Pacers off the offensive glass. That wasn’t a problem, as Indiana had eight second-chance points.
But ball security was a headache. The Magic committed 18 turnovers and the Pacers converted those miscues into 23 points.
The Pacers hit 13 of their first 15 shots — going 6 of 8 from the 3-point line — to grab the early momentum and run with it.
T.J. Warren, who entered the contest averaging 37.5 points in seeding play, sank four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 32 points to lead the Pacers. Myles Turner also had four 3s as he scored 21 points, while Victor Oladipo had 13 and Malcolm Brogdon, Aaron Holiday and T.J. McConnell scored 12 points apiece for Indiana.
The loss dropped Orlando back into eighth in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind Brooklyn. The Nets beat the conference-leading Bucks in the early game at the Visa Athletic Center. The Magic now have five seeding games remaining as they make a push for a second consecutive playoff berth.
The Magic were hampered by some injuries. Michael Carter-Williams did not play in the second half due to a sore foot, while James Ennis left the game with a dislocated finger before returning. Orlando also played its first game of the restart without forward Jonathan Isaac, who sustained a season-ending knee injury on Sunday.
In addition, Gordon sat a big chunk of the third quarter with four fouls.
The Pacers took control early after scoring the first 10 points, and they extended their lead to 19-3 after an Oladipo 3-pointer. The Magic contributed to the Pacers’ fast start by making just one of their first eight shot attempts.
Warren finished with first quarter with 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting that included three 3-pointers. He had 21 points at halftime as the Pacers led 71-50.
The Magic didn’t produce any big runs but chipped away at the lead and pulled within 12, at 78-66, on a 20-foot jumper by Vucevic. But Orlando couldn’t push beyond that deficit.
An Evan Fournier 3 from the corner made it 105-92 before Turner drained two 3-pointers in a three-possession stretch to extend the lead to 18.
Orlando trailed 113-99 and had two chances to get closer but Fournier and D.J. Augustin missed 3-point tries.
A Vucevic 3 with 2:21 left cut the deficit to 12 again. The Magic got two shots on their next possession, but Fournier missed a 3 and Vucevic’s tip-in try rolled out.
The Magic return to action Wednesday when they face the Toronto Raptors at 8 p.m. The Raptors have beaten the Lakers and the Heat in their two seeding games.
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