Magic at Pacers
THE STORY: With offensive outbursts against Cleveland and Washington, the Orlando Magic look to have things back on track following an uncharacteristic four-game losing skid. That hypothesis will be put to the test on Saturday night when the Magic face the red-hot Pacers in Indiana. Orlando dropped dangerously close to the .500 mark earlier this week following a string of horrid showings - including a 21-point home loss to the Pacers. Orlando failed to score more than 85 points in any game during the skid, and twice fell short of the 70-point plateau. The Magic put those struggles behind them with consecutive wins over the Wizards and Cavaliers in which the club averaged 105.5 points. The Pacers come in having won four consecutive games, including a 98-87 victory in Dallas on Friday night. Indiana is no offensive slouch itself, having scored an average of 105 points over the course of its winning streak.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Indiana, NBA TV
ABOUT THE MAGIC (14-9): It seems disgruntled superstar Dwight Howard isn't the only Orlando big man causing trouble. Forward/center Glen Davis is serving the second of two-game suspension Saturday after getting into a heated argument with head coach Stan Van Gundy during a team walkthrough prior to Friday's win over the Cavaliers. Davis is averaging 7.3 points and five rebounds in 22 games this season. He's eligible to return Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
ABOUT THE PACERS (16-6): After employing a more freewheeling style in victories over Orlando, New Jersey and Minnesota, Friday's game against Dallas saw the Pacers return to the shutdown defense that has led them to one of the top records in the Eastern Conference. Indiana surrendered just 34 second-half points to wipe out a one-point halftime deficit and move within a game and a half of the first-place Chicago Bulls in the Central Division race.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams have split a pair of meetings in 2011-12, with each team winning on the other's court.
2. Friday's 16-point performance ended forward Danny Granger's streak of consecutive 20-point efforts at five games. He shot just 5 for 18 against the Mavericks.
3. Howard's eight blocks against Cleveland were a season high.