Magic at Pacers
The Orlando Magic seek their second win this month at Indiana when they visit the Pacers on Saturday. The Magic won in Indianapolis on March 2 by a 117-112 score, part of a 15-7 surge that has them a half-game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with six games to play.
Their momentum was halted with a 115-98 loss at the Detroit Pistons on Thursday in the second game of a critical four-game road trip. "To be honest, I thought (Thursday) night was an off night," Orlando guard Evan Fournier told reporters. "It's not an excuse, but sometimes it's going to happen. Now, we have to go back to the way we were playing and focus on that and just flush that (loss in Detroit) out. It was a bad loss and a disappointing game for us. Just forget it and be better on Saturday." The Pacers dipped into fifth place in the East with Friday's 114-112 loss at Boston, their 10th straight defeat on the road. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 27 points in the setback as Indiana fell to 30-16 against the East.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), FS Indiana
ABOUT THE MAGIC (37-39): Aaron Gordon and D.J. Augustin combined for 38 points and both went 7-of-12 from the floor in the loss to the Pistons on Thursday. Their teammates combined to shoot 32.9 percent overall, including 5-for-23 from 3-point range. "I think they had a toughness about them tonight that we weren't ready to match," Gordon told reporters. "It's a disappointing loss, but we still have chances to make up for it."
ABOUT THE PACERS (45-31): Indiana is in the midst of a brutal stretch in which it plays 13 straight games against teams in the playoff race, although four of its next five contests come at home. The Pacers are 28-9 at home and have won 10 of their last 12 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Thaddeus Young chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds in Friday's loss.
TIP-INS
1. Bogdanovic is averaging 30 points over his last three games.
2. Indiana has won four in a row at home.
3. Orlando won two of the first three meetings.