Serious and in control, the Magic continue against the Pacers

After a great victory in front of his home crowd against the Celtics at the beginning of the week, the magicstill at the Amway Center, benefited from the confidence gained from dominating the pale Pacerswhere the tumble continues (eight losses in their last nine games).

Always deprived Tyrese Haliburton for the seventh game in a row, the absence of which also coincides with the current very bad run of his team, Rick Carlisle’s squad does not really exist in this meeting, especially the accusation of 17 points of delay at the end of the first quarter, finished with 29 points scored for 46 points conceded.

The successful second quarter from the Pacers, in the form of a furious awakening in the attack (39-27 in their favor), reduced the gap to only 5 units and brought a little suspense when they entered the locker room , but the locals, always very fair in attack (56% on shots, including 54% from behind the arc throughout the game) and concentrated on defense, easily continued their march forward in the second half, then cruised, rather quietly for the remainder of this match, to their 19th victory of the season. Even the final score, only 6 points difference, is not fully representative of the face of the match.

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– For the Pacers, the first quarter was disappointing, and in fact fatal. The final gap was only 6 points (especially since the Magic were very relaxed in the final minutes), but we felt, throughout the match, that the Pacers were not really in a position to win. The fault in particular of a complete miss in the first quarter: 46-29 in favor of Orlando! Defensively overwhelmed from the start, facing a concentrated team and with good momentum in recent days, the Pacers were able to reduce their delay before halftime by taking advantage of the holders exiting for the better part of the second quarter, but the momentum, however, never left the locals’ camp. Having struggled in recent weeks, with 8 losses in their last 9 outings, the Pacers can’t get past their start to the game.

– An especially exciting project in Orlando. We left an enthusiastic and mostly exciting Magic team after a great victory over the NBA-leading Celtics on Monday night, and we found it with the same feeling. Young and carefree, but above all exciting and lovable, this young Magic squad really offered a new good show to its fans, delivering in particular a very successful offensive score, supported of continued defense efforts. In fact, this second victory of a great week so far for the Orlando franchise is the result of obvious and noticeable daily progress. This team obviously still has flaws and has a long way to go (in particular, one thinks of its 17 turnovers), but for a club in only its second true year of rebuilding, the -development is certainly remarkable, and the product in the field is often very exciting.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ The Wagner-Banchero-Carter Jr triplets. The Magic’s three frontcourt players were truly the main architects of this fine collective effort, amassing 54 points, 16 rebounds and 13 assists. All three are tall, long and dangerous athletes, they hurt the Pacers outside by attacking the circle often (14/17 on three-way free throws), thereby forcing Myles Turner to be constantly in the assist position near his circle. Their development, both individually on their own and collectively as a powerful trio of this team, in fact represents, more broadly, the symbol of the development of this Magic team.

✅ Gary Harris. Finally back in his best physical shape, the Magic back stabilizes a very young and athletic major five with his experience and external address. He effectively torpedoed the Pacers defense, while his young teammates crashed into the paint: 6/6 behind the arc!

✅ Benedict Mathurin. Top scorer of the match off the bench, with 26 points on 7/18 shots, the talented newbie The Pacers did what he knows how to do best: put pressure on the opposing defense. Especially in the circle, as he went to the free throw line a remarkable 12 times, for 10 converted shots. In front of the only player of his promotion that separates him from the title Outstanding rookie of the yearPaolo Banchero, the Canadian sent a message.

✅ TJ McConnell. Logically mobilized in five majors in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, and rather convincing in the interim, the veteran point guard delivered a solid performance: 17 points on 8/8 on shots, 3 rebounds and 8 assists (but 4 losses of the ball) . Physically and technically limited, compared to his younger self, the former 76ers paid high game science and overflowing energy, on both sides of the field.

⛔️ Aaron Nesmith. The outing was very anecdotal for the winger: just 1 interception and… 2 turnovers in 13 minutes. A bubble in all other statistical categories!

THE FOLLOWING

Magic (19-29): travel to Miami, in the evening of Friday to Saturday (02:00).

Pacers (24-26): reception of the Pacers, in the evening of Friday to Saturday (01:00).