Field Level Media
Feb 25, 2023
Myles Turner scored 24 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 19 as the visiting Indiana Pacers dominated the second half in a 121-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Jordan Nwora had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench for Indiana, which led by as many as 21 and won for just the third time in its last 13 games. Tyrese Haliburton added 15 points and 14 assists, and Andrew Nembhard scored 13.
Franz Wagner led Orlando with 21 points, while Paolo Banchero scored 19, Markelle Fultz had 18, and Jalen Suggs chipped in 14. The Magic shot 38.9 percent from the field and 6 of 29 (20.7 percent) from 3-point range.
After a closely fought first half, Indiana outscored the Magic 31-22 in the third quarter and maintained control for the rest of the contest.
Indiana won the season series against Orlando 3-1 while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 15 of 40 (37.5 percent) from 3-point range.
Wagner scored 11 points as the Magic took a 52-51 halftime lead. Indiana was 6 of 21 (28.6 percent) from 3-point range in the first half, while Orlando missed 11 of its 14 attempts (21.4 percent).
Indiana opened the second half on a 17-2 run and led 68-54 on Haliburton's jumper with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Turner continued his strong play after tying his career high with 40 points in Thursday's 142-138 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. The veteran center had 10 in the third quarter against the Magic to help the Pacers move ahead 82-74.
Jalen Smith finished with five blocks for Indiana, which stretched its lead to 107-89 on Buddy Hield's 3-pointer with 5:20 remaining. Hield scored all nine of his points in the second half.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 11 rebounds for Orlando, which fell to 15-16 this season at Amway Center. Goga Bitadze made his Magic debut and tallied six points and six rebounds in nine minutes against his former team.
The Pacers' road victory was their first since beating the Miami Heat on Dec. 23.
--Field Level Media