In a game full of offensive prowess, the Indiana Pacers (1-3) fell short to the Orlando Magic (3-1) 119-115 on Oct. 28 at the Kia Center in Florida.
The first half was powered by Orlando forward Paolo Banchero, who scored a record-breaking 37 points by halftime. Banchero’s performance is a franchise record for points in a half. Banchero’s shooting was steady, finishing the game with 50 points on 16-of-26 shooting. His aggressive drives and consistency from the free-throw line (15-of-22) helped the Magic close the half with a 71-59 lead.
“It was like open gym,” Banchero said about his performance immediately after the contest.
Orlando Magic head coach Jahmal Mosley also showered Banchero’s record-breaking performance.
“I am so proud of that young man,” Mosley said. “He was an artist out there.”
Conversely, the Pacers fought to keep up with the Magic’s scoring.
Forward Pascal Siakam finished the half with nine points, while point guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Myles Turner chipped in with nine points each. Despite keeping the first quarter close, the Pacers struggled to contain Banchero’s hot hand in the second quarter.
“The first half was tough,” Haliburton said. “I do feel encouraged by this performance as a group, and we will move on from here.”
Indiana came out strong in the third quarter, tightening their defense and leveraging fast-break opportunities to outscore the Magic 39-22. Haliburton played a crucial role in the second-half comeback, returning to well-known playmaking abilities with seven assists.
Haliburton finished the game with 19 points and 10 assists. Siakam continued to contribute offensively, ending the contest with 26 points and nine rebounds.
Turner ramped up the defense with his shot-blocking presence and hit a timely three-pointer during Indiana’s run. The Pacers cut Orlando’s lead and briefly took control, leading Orlando by as much as six in the third quarter. The heroics came behind the efficient shooting and contributions from bench players like forward Obi Toppin, who ended with 14 points backed by three three-pointers.
“The third quarter was a terrific quarter for us,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “I don’t have the blow-by-blow for the fourth quarter. They just made more [shots] than we did.”
Despite Indiana’s third-quarter momentum, Orlando regained its stride in the fourth. Banchero’s 13 points in the final quarter, coupled with center Wendell Carter Jr.’s rebounding, allowed Orlando to regain control. Point guard Jalen Suggs, who finished with 25 points, hit a critical three-pointer that stalled Indiana’s comeback efforts. The Pacers’ offensive rhythm simmered out in the final minutes, scoring only 17 points in the fourth, which allowed the Magic to secure a narrow 119-115 victory.
Next stop for the Pacers: The Boston Celtics, who will play Indy on Oct. 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“They are the best team in the league,” Haliburton said regarding the upcoming Celtics matchup. “If you are a competitor, then you love that. It is another opportunity for us to grow.”
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
