Magic-Pacers Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Feb 04 2012 1:52AM

Aside from handing the Indiana Pacers their only home defeat of the season, the Orlando Magic had a rough go toward the end of last month.

A couple of easier matchups have helped the Magic get off to a good start in February.

Seeking a third straight victory overall, visiting Orlando tries for a seventh win in its last eight meetings with Indiana as the teams face each other for the third time in 12 days Saturday night.

It was a forgettable conclusion to January for the Magic (14-9), who finished the month with five losses in six games - with their only win over that stretch coming 102-83 at Indiana on Jan. 24. After that win, Orlando suffered a season-worst four straight defeats - including a 21-point home loss at the hands of the Pacers (16-6) on Sunday.

The Magic, though, may have put their woes behind them this week. Two days after snapping their skid with a 109-103 win over road-weary Washington, Orlando beat Cleveland 102-94 on Friday. The Magic committed a season-low five turnovers and held the Cavaliers to 36.7 percent shooting from the field.

"We did good job of spacing the floor out, moving the ball and getting each other involved," said Jason Richardson, who returned following a two-game absence (knee) to score 19 points - his second-highest total of the season.

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 16 rebounds and finished two blocks shy of a triple-double. His 9-of-16 effort from the foul-line, however, helped allow Cleveland to cut what was a 21-point lead to five with 2:12 to play after continuously sending him to the line.

"That's the game plan," Howard said. "Until I get better at the line they're gonna continue to do it. It is what it is. I shot them better. I just gotta continue to work on them. They'll fall."

The Magic had outscored the Pacers by an average of 14.5 points while taking six straight in the series before Sunday's loss. Orlando has still won its last four visits to Indiana while limiting the Pacers to 40.3 percent shooting.

Indiana, however, has now won a season-best four straight overall after prevailing 98-87 at Dallas on Friday. Second-year swingman Paul George made 7 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with a career-high 30 points.

"Yeah, he's oozing confidence, as is our whole team," coach Frank Vogel said.

While George was been held to a combined 13 points in the two games versus the Magic this season, he could fare better this time.

"I've grown into a confident player. I feel like I can knock down any shot," said George, averaging 12.4 points on the season. "I've got a comfort level out there right now."

The Pacers have to like their chances of keeping things going in front of their home crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where they've allowed just 87.9 points per game while going 6-1. Indiana is holding teams to 39.3 percent shooting on its own court - the second-best mark in the league.

Orlando guard Jameer Nelson is all but certain to miss his fifth consecutive game with concussion-like symptoms. He could return Monday when the Magic host the Los Angeles Clippers.

Glen Davis will also be unavailable against the Pacers as he serves the back end of a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

Howard scores 27, Magic beat Pacers 85-81

Posted Feb 04 2012 11:22PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Shut out of a hotel by the Super Bowl, the Orlando Magic had to fly in from Cincinnati on Saturday before the game.

It didn't produce much in the way of attractive basketball, though the Magic could have done worse. Their ugly win could have been an ugly loss.

Dwight Howard had 27 points and eight rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to an 85-81 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

"It's not a game day I've ever had before," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Our original plan was just to stay at home last night and fly in here the day of the game, which would have been a lot easier on us, but the NBA wouldn't allow that. So instead they made us do the double flight. It would have been easier the other way, but what was easier was not what the NBA was interested in."

Danny Granger had 19 points and seven rebounds and Tyler Hansbrough had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost two of three to the Magic in less than two weeks.

"This is one of the games where shots didn't fall," Hansbrough said. "I think the defense was pretty good and I'm not worried about my shooting. I think it will come."

Jason Richardson scored 17 points and Ryan Anderson scored 12 for the Magic, who have won three straight.

Granger made a 3-pointer to make it 83-81, but Granger was called for a foul on the Magic's next trip down the floor and Anderson went to the line with 4.2 seconds left.

The Pacers had the chance to tie the game earlier. Granger scored to make it 80-77, then the Magic missed a shot and Granger missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game.

On the rebound, Granger fouled Hedo Turkoglu and Turkoglu was then called for a technical when he tossed the ball down the floor and into the stands. Granger made his shot, but Turkoglu made one of his two to make it 81-78.

The Magic climbed to a 12-point lead midway through the third quarter, but nearly gave it all back.

"We have to talk on Monday," Van Gundy said. "We did some mentally dumb things and we have to change that."

A slight scuffle broke out late in the third quarter. Granger was getting ready to inbound the ball in front of the Magic's bench when Quentin Richardson, who was in the game at the time, appeared to confront Granger.

It escalated when Richardson shoved Granger and Hansbrough and Clark exchanged shoves. Technicals were called on Granger and Richardson, then a two more on Hansbrough and Clark.

Richardson was then ejected from the game after picking up a second technical

"Yeah, it was a really physical game," Howard said. "Both teams played hard end to end. It was a good battle with a good time."

The Magic played without Jameer Nelson for the fifth straight game. Nelson didn't travel with the team to Indianapolis and is listed day-to-day with concussion-like symptoms.

NOTES: Pacers C Jeff Foster didn't play for the eleventh straight game because of a sore lower back. Pacers G George Hill was out with a chip fracture on his left ankle. With the Super Bowl in Indianapolis this weekend, actor Adam Sandler and rapper 50 Cent were in attendance Saturday night. . The Orlando Magic couldn't book any rooms in Indianapolis this weekend because of the Super Bowl. The team was forced to stay just outside of Cincinnati, in Covington Ky. and then flew to Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

Notebook: Magic 85, Pacers 81

By Conrad B
Posted Saturday February 4, 2012 10:59PM

THE FACTS: If this was a foreshadowing of the other big game in Indianapolis this weekend, take the under. The Pacers and Magic combined for 41 turnovers, eight technical fouls and some really intense but sloppy basketball Saturday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse with visiting Orlando emerging with an 85-81 victory that was more a matter of survival than success. Dwight Howard scored 27 to lead the Magic (15-9) to a third consecutive victory despite 25 turnovers. Danny Granger scored 19 for Indiana (16-7), which had a four-game win streak snapped.

QUOTABLE: "Both teams played really, really hard. When you have these kinds of schedules in the league you're going to have some games like that. It was our ninth game in 13 days and their ninth in 14. Basically nobody could make a shot and there were 41 turnovers in the game."
-- Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy.

THE STAT: Indiana missed 18 of its final 20 shots, including 11 in a row after cutting the lead to 69-68 with 7:29 remaining.

TURNING POINT: Free throws by Paul George and Granger cut the Orlando lead to 80-77 with 36.6 seconds remaining. After Roy Hibbert blocked Howard's shot, the Pacers had a shot to tie but Granger missed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining and the Magic closed it out at the line.

QUOTABLE II: "It was a really physical game tonight. Both teams played hard end to end. It was a good battle with a good team. "
-- Howard.

HOT: Howard enjoyed an unusually successful night at the free throw line, making 7 of 10.

NOT: Granger was 4-of-16, 2-of-9 from the arc. Collison had zero assists against Orlando for the second time in 12 days. Hedo Turkoglu was 2-of-11 and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. The Pacers shot 4-of-22 (.182) from the 3-point line and had just 12 assists. Indiana shot a season-low .341 overall.

QUOTABLE III: "This is a game where we made some mistakes and as I said before if we could play it over we would do things differently and maybe be a little stronger and a little tougher."
-- Indiana center Hibbert.

IN THE ARENA: With the Super Bowl in Indianapolis Sunday, the arena was brimming with celebrities including comic actor Adam Sandler, rapper 50 Cent, boxer Floyd Mayweather, members of the band O.A.R., pop singer Nikki Minaj, former NBA standout Gary Payton and former Pacer Rik Smits, Travis Best and Derrick McKey. Former Colts player Ben Utecht, now a full-time musician, sang the national anthem.

NOTABLE: Orlando had six technical fouls, two from Quentin Richardson who was ejected for shoving Granger with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter. ... Tyler Hansbrough finished with a season-high 17 points. ... George had another solid all-around game with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots. ... The Pacers fell to 4-7 when they do not shot at least .333 from the 3-point line. .. Orlando was without point guard Jameer Nelson (concussion-like symptoms) and backup big man Glen "Big Baby" Davis, serving the second of a two-game team suspension. ... Coach Van Gundy said he hopes Nelson can return Monday but does not expect him to be in condition to handle his usual minutes. ... The Pacers missed sixth man George Hill (chip fracture, left ankle) for the third game in a row. He is out indefinitely with no timetable for a return.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Tuesday vs. Utah, Wednesday at Atlanta, Friday at Memphis. For the Magic, Monday vs. L.A. Clippers, Wednesday vs. Miami, Friday vs. Atlanta.

• Magic: Davis, Nelson
• Pacers: --

• Magic: Clark, Howard, Richardson, Richardson, Turkoglu, Wafer
• Pacers: Granger, Hansbrough

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #11 Derrick Collins, #7 Kevin Fehr, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 18165
• Duration: 2:27