Round two...
https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/prev...s-magic-221121
Game Preview
After grinding out a 114-113 victory over Orlando on Saturday night, the Pacers (9-6) will hope to sweep a two-game set with the Magic (5-12) when the two teams meet again on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers are on a roll as they enter Thanksgiving week, having won four straight and eight of their last 10. Though they have one of the league's youngest rosters, they've already developed tremendous chemistry and a knack for closing games strong.
Indiana's recipe for success has been getting contributions from up and down the lineup. While the Blue & Gold are getting consistent production from their point guard (Tyrese Haliburton) and center (Myles Turner) and plenty of scoring on the wing from Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin, there is seemingly always another role player stepping up on any given night.
That held true over this weekend as the Blue & Gold picked up back-to-back wins over Houston and Orlando. Oshae Brissett had his first double-digit scoring performance of the season against the Rockets, knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring 14 in a 99-91 win. Then on Saturday, Aaron Nesmith -- who had gone scoreless in three of his past four games -- exploded for a career-high 19 points and five threes in the win over the Magic.
Orlando has been hampered by injuries at the start of the season. The Magic were missing seven players on Saturday, though could potentially get center Wendell Carter Jr. (16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) and guard Gary Harris (scored 7 points in season debut on Friday) back for Monday's rematch.
Second-year guard Franz Wagner has been carrying a heavy load for the shorthanded Magic. The 6-10 guard out of Michigan is averaging 19.3 points and 4.5 assists on the season and had a game-high 29 points against Indiana on Saturday.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Jalen Smith, C - Myles Turner
Magic: G - Jalen Suggs, G - Franz Wagner, F - Chuma Okeke, F - Bol Bol, C - Mo Bamba
Injury Report
Pacers: Chris Duarte - out (left ankle sprain), Daniel Theis - out (sore right knee)
Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. - questionable (right plantar fascia strain), Gary Harris - questionable (left knee injury management), Cole Anthony - out (right internal oblique tear), Paolo Banchero - out (left ankle sprain), Markelle Fultz - out (left big toe fracture), Jonathan Isaac - out (left knee injury recovery), Moritz Wagner - out (right midfoot sprain)
Last Meeting
Nov. 19, 2022: Aaron Nesmith outhustled multiple Magic defenders for an offensive rebound and drew a foul, then hit both free throws with 9.6 seconds remaining to give Indiana the lead. On the other end, Franz Wagner missed at the rim as Indiana picked up a thrilling 114-113 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“I think everybody here wants to win, wants to get better and everybody plays hard,” Nesmith said. “That's what's really helping us win these games and closing out tight games and making comebacks. We play hard, we trust each other, we trust the work we put in practice and it has paid off.”
Tyrese Haliburton led six Pacers in double figures with 22 points and 14 assists. Myles Turner recorded his fifth double-double in six games with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
But the hero of the night was Nesmith, who scored a career-high 19 points off the bench, going 5-for-8 from 3-point range.
Wagner led all scorers with 29 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Bol Bol added 22 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Mo Bamba tallied 21 points and nine boards for Orlando.
Noteworthy
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/prev...s-magic-221121
Game Preview
After grinding out a 114-113 victory over Orlando on Saturday night, the Pacers (9-6) will hope to sweep a two-game set with the Magic (5-12) when the two teams meet again on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers are on a roll as they enter Thanksgiving week, having won four straight and eight of their last 10. Though they have one of the league's youngest rosters, they've already developed tremendous chemistry and a knack for closing games strong.
Indiana's recipe for success has been getting contributions from up and down the lineup. While the Blue & Gold are getting consistent production from their point guard (Tyrese Haliburton) and center (Myles Turner) and plenty of scoring on the wing from Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin, there is seemingly always another role player stepping up on any given night.
That held true over this weekend as the Blue & Gold picked up back-to-back wins over Houston and Orlando. Oshae Brissett had his first double-digit scoring performance of the season against the Rockets, knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring 14 in a 99-91 win. Then on Saturday, Aaron Nesmith -- who had gone scoreless in three of his past four games -- exploded for a career-high 19 points and five threes in the win over the Magic.
Orlando has been hampered by injuries at the start of the season. The Magic were missing seven players on Saturday, though could potentially get center Wendell Carter Jr. (16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) and guard Gary Harris (scored 7 points in season debut on Friday) back for Monday's rematch.
Second-year guard Franz Wagner has been carrying a heavy load for the shorthanded Magic. The 6-10 guard out of Michigan is averaging 19.3 points and 4.5 assists on the season and had a game-high 29 points against Indiana on Saturday.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Jalen Smith, C - Myles Turner
Magic: G - Jalen Suggs, G - Franz Wagner, F - Chuma Okeke, F - Bol Bol, C - Mo Bamba
Injury Report
Pacers: Chris Duarte - out (left ankle sprain), Daniel Theis - out (sore right knee)
Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. - questionable (right plantar fascia strain), Gary Harris - questionable (left knee injury management), Cole Anthony - out (right internal oblique tear), Paolo Banchero - out (left ankle sprain), Markelle Fultz - out (left big toe fracture), Jonathan Isaac - out (left knee injury recovery), Moritz Wagner - out (right midfoot sprain)
Last Meeting
Nov. 19, 2022: Aaron Nesmith outhustled multiple Magic defenders for an offensive rebound and drew a foul, then hit both free throws with 9.6 seconds remaining to give Indiana the lead. On the other end, Franz Wagner missed at the rim as Indiana picked up a thrilling 114-113 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“I think everybody here wants to win, wants to get better and everybody plays hard,” Nesmith said. “That's what's really helping us win these games and closing out tight games and making comebacks. We play hard, we trust each other, we trust the work we put in practice and it has paid off.”
Tyrese Haliburton led six Pacers in double figures with 22 points and 14 assists. Myles Turner recorded his fifth double-double in six games with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
But the hero of the night was Nesmith, who scored a career-high 19 points off the bench, going 5-for-8 from 3-point range.
Wagner led all scorers with 29 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Bol Bol added 22 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Mo Bamba tallied 21 points and nine boards for Orlando.
Noteworthy
- Indiana is 6-0 on the season when six or more players score in double figures.
- The Pacers will visit Orlando twice in the new year: on Jan. 25 and again on Feb. 25.
- Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were teammates on the Gonzaga team that went 31-1 in 2020-21 and reached the championship game of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
- Orlando guard Gary Harris is a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
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