Paolo Banchero scored 34 points, Franz Wagner finished with 24 points, and the Orlando Magic ended a four-game losing streak with their 117-110 defeat of the Indiana Pacers on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Orlando led most of the way and by as many as 15 points in the first half before Indiana rallied to pull ahead briefly in the third quarter. The Pacers outscored the Magic 33-20 in the third, but Orlando responded with a stout defensive effort in the final period.
Orlando held the NBA’s top-scoring offense to 17 points fewer than its average coming into Saturday’s contest, closing out the win limiting Indiana to just 18 points in the fourth quarter.
The Pacers were held to just 8-of-17 shooting from the floor in the final period, while Banchero and Wagner combined to buoy the Magic on the offensive end. The duo combined for 14 points over the final nine minutes to lift Orlando to its first road win since Nov. 19, which also came at Indiana.
The Magic endured a five-game streak of road losses between those contests, including three in their previous four games overall.
Indiana outshot Orlando 53.4 percent to 52.4 percent, although Indiana made 15 of 34 from long range vs. 6 of 18 for the Magic. Orlando got to the free-throw line 41 times and made 33. The Pacers were 9 of 13.
Banchero was 12-for-16 at the foul line, while Wagner went 8-for-8. Gary Harris, who scored 15 points, went 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Cole Anthony rounded out Orlando’s double-figure scoring with 12 points off the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 29 points and the league leader in assists (12.0 per game) finished with 14 on Saturday. Myles Turner added 24 points and Buddy Hield made 5-of-11 3-point attempts en route to 20 points.
Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and Jalen Smith scored 11 off the bench.
–Field Level Media
