Pacers dump Magic for fourth win in row
ORLANDO, Fla. -- C.J. Miles scored 16 points, and the Indiana Pacers won their fourth consecutive game by pounding the Orlando Magic 98-88 Wednesday night at the Amway Center.
Miles hit 6 of 7 shots, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range in a nearly flawless shooting night. The Pacers (26-22) never trailed after the first two minutes.
The Magic (19-31) never got closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
Indiana's Glenn Robinson had 14 points and hit all five of his shots, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jeff Teague contributed 13 points and nine assists. Thaddeus Young added 12 points, and Myles Turner had 11 points.
Serge Ibaka led the Magic with a game-high 20 points, and he grabbed nine rebounds. Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Evan Fournier, who fouled out in the final two minutes, scored 12 points. Elfrid Payton had 11 points and six rebounds, and reserve D.J. Augustin managed 10 points.
The Pacers shot 47.8 percent from the field and held a 38-35 rebound advantage.
The Magic pulled to within five points when Payton scored with 4:45 remaining. Miles hit a jumper with 2:22 remaining to give the Pacers a 93-84 cushion they never lost.
Miles, who had just two points in the first half, hit 3 of 4 3-point attempts in the third quarter, pushing the Pacers to a 80-74 lead. The Magic closed within four points when Payton completed a three-point play late in the third.
Topped by Teague with 11 points, the Pacers led 56-47 at intermission. He hit 8 of 9 free throws in the first two periods. The Pacers were the aggressors in the second period when they took 15 free throws.
Young sparked the Pacers early, scoring eight points in the first seven minutes.
NOTES: Pacers veteran G Rodney Stuckey, who has played in only 17 games this season, returned to action Wednesday from his strained hamstring. He scored eight points. C/F Kevin Seraphin (sore groin) was available, but he didn't play.. ... Indiana F Paul George, headed for his fourth All-Star Game appearance, came into Wednesday having scored 31 points or more in each of the previous four games. The Magic held him to eight points. ... The Pacers moved G C.J. Miles into the starting lineup last week and won three consecutive games coming into Wednesday. ... Magic F Serge Ibaka, a free agent this summer, has been a hot topic as the trade deadline approaches. Ibaka, who was obtained from Oklahoma City last summer, is unlikely to re-sign with the Magic, hoping to play for a contender. ... The Magic did not re-sign G-F Anthony Brown when his 10-day contract expired on Tuesday.