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Game Preview
The Pacers (3-4) and Magic (3-5) will meet for the second time in nine days on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but both teams will look significantly different for the rematch.
The Magic took the first meeting with a 119-115 victory on Oct. 28 in Orlando behind a career-high 50-point performance by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. But Banchero tore his right oblique two nights later in a loss to Chicago and will be sidelined for weeks.
Without their star forward, the Magic have dropped four straight games and need a victory on Wednesday to avoid going winless on a five-game road trip.
The Pacers, meanwhile, have won two of their last three games, picking up impressive victories over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Oct. 30 in Indianapolis and the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks on Monday night in Dallas.
But the Blue & Gold are also banged up, as backup center Isaiah Jackson tore his right Achilles on Friday in New Orleans and starting forward Aaron Nesmith sprained his left ankle in the same game. Jackson underwent surgery on Monday, while Nesmith's foot is currently in a boot.
But despite those absences, the Pacers put together a strong performance on Monday in Dallas, with seven players scoring in double figures in a 134-127 win. Veteran Myles Turner had a big night back in his hometown, recording a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds while going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is also rounding into form, as he registered his fourth straight double-double with a 25-point, 12-assist performance.
Wednesday's game will be a matchup of contrasting styles, as the defensive-minded Magic try to slow down Indiana's up-tempo offensive attack. Orlando is currently third in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing just 107.5 points per 100 possessions.
Without Banchero, the Magic need a scoring boost from elsewhere on their roster. They are relying heavily on their two top-eight picks from the 2021 NBA Draft, point guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner, who are both averaging 17.6 points per game on the season. Backup big man Moritz Wagner, Franz's older brother, is the only other healthy player on the roster with a double-digit scoring average (11 points per game). Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Magic: G - Jalen Suggs, G - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F - Tristan da Silva, F - Franz Wagner, C - Goga Bitadze Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - out (torn right Achilles tendon), Aaron Nesmith - out (left ankle sprain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon)
Magic: Paolo Banchero - out (right oblique tear), Wendell Carter Jr. - out (left foot plantar fascia strain) Last Meeting
Oct. 28, 2024: Paolo Banchero scored a career-high 50 points — including 37 in the first half — to lift the Magic to a 119-115 victory in Orlando. Banchero went 16-for-26 from the field, 3-for-9 from 3-point range, and 15-for-22 from the free throw line while also tallying 13 rebounds and nine assists.
The Pacers had a narrow lead for much of the fourth quarter and even after falling behind in the closing minutes tied the game on Tyrese Haliburton's 3-pointer with 52.8 seconds remaining in regulation, but Magic guard Anthony Black answered with a three that proved to be the game-winner on the other end.
Pascal Siakam led six Pacers in double figures in the loss, finishing with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, nine rebounds, and four assists. Haliburton nearly registered a triple-double, ending the night with 19 points, nine boards, and 10 assists.
Noteworthy
FanDuel Sports Network - 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) Tickets
The Pacers will host Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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Game Preview
The Pacers (3-4) and Magic (3-5) will meet for the second time in nine days on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but both teams will look significantly different for the rematch.
The Magic took the first meeting with a 119-115 victory on Oct. 28 in Orlando behind a career-high 50-point performance by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. But Banchero tore his right oblique two nights later in a loss to Chicago and will be sidelined for weeks.
Without their star forward, the Magic have dropped four straight games and need a victory on Wednesday to avoid going winless on a five-game road trip.
The Pacers, meanwhile, have won two of their last three games, picking up impressive victories over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Oct. 30 in Indianapolis and the reigning Western Conference champion Mavericks on Monday night in Dallas.
But the Blue & Gold are also banged up, as backup center Isaiah Jackson tore his right Achilles on Friday in New Orleans and starting forward Aaron Nesmith sprained his left ankle in the same game. Jackson underwent surgery on Monday, while Nesmith's foot is currently in a boot.
But despite those absences, the Pacers put together a strong performance on Monday in Dallas, with seven players scoring in double figures in a 134-127 win. Veteran Myles Turner had a big night back in his hometown, recording a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds while going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is also rounding into form, as he registered his fourth straight double-double with a 25-point, 12-assist performance.
Wednesday's game will be a matchup of contrasting styles, as the defensive-minded Magic try to slow down Indiana's up-tempo offensive attack. Orlando is currently third in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing just 107.5 points per 100 possessions.
Without Banchero, the Magic need a scoring boost from elsewhere on their roster. They are relying heavily on their two top-eight picks from the 2021 NBA Draft, point guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner, who are both averaging 17.6 points per game on the season. Backup big man Moritz Wagner, Franz's older brother, is the only other healthy player on the roster with a double-digit scoring average (11 points per game). Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Magic: G - Jalen Suggs, G - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F - Tristan da Silva, F - Franz Wagner, C - Goga Bitadze Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - out (torn right Achilles tendon), Aaron Nesmith - out (left ankle sprain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon)
Magic: Paolo Banchero - out (right oblique tear), Wendell Carter Jr. - out (left foot plantar fascia strain) Last Meeting
Oct. 28, 2024: Paolo Banchero scored a career-high 50 points — including 37 in the first half — to lift the Magic to a 119-115 victory in Orlando. Banchero went 16-for-26 from the field, 3-for-9 from 3-point range, and 15-for-22 from the free throw line while also tallying 13 rebounds and nine assists.
The Pacers had a narrow lead for much of the fourth quarter and even after falling behind in the closing minutes tied the game on Tyrese Haliburton's 3-pointer with 52.8 seconds remaining in regulation, but Magic guard Anthony Black answered with a three that proved to be the game-winner on the other end.
Pascal Siakam led six Pacers in double figures in the loss, finishing with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, nine rebounds, and four assists. Haliburton nearly registered a triple-double, ending the night with 19 points, nine boards, and 10 assists.
Noteworthy
- The Magic won both meetings with the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last season. Prior to that, Indiana had won five of six home games against Orlando.
- The Pacers are scheduled to face the Magic three times in their first 11 games, as the two teams will meet once more in Orlando on Nov. 13. Barring a meeting in the NBA Cup, they won't face each other again after that until the Pacers host Orlando for their final home game of the regular season on April 11.
- Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were teammates on the 2020-21 Gonzaga team that reached the national championship game.
- Magic center Goga Bitadze was drafted by the Pacers with the 18th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played for Indiana from 2019-23.
- Assuming he plays, Wednesday will be Myles Turner's 576th career game with the Pacers, breaking a tie with Freddie Lewis for eighth-most games played in franchise history. Herb Williams (577 career games) is in seventh place and Billy Knight (585 career games) is sixth.
FanDuel Sports Network - 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) Tickets
The Pacers will host Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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