Pacers 95, Magic 86
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Forward Paul George scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 95-86 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at the Amway Center.
Guard George Hill had 16 points, including nine in the final period. Guard Monta Ellis had 19 points and seven assists, and center Ian Mahinmi finished with eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Indiana (20-15).
The Magic (19-17) lost their fourth consecutive game as their offense continued to struggle.
Orlando guard Victor Oladipo scored 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Center Nikola Vucevic had 17 points, and forward Evan Fournier added 13 points.
The Pacers led 89-78 after three free throws from Hill with 2:21 remaining before the Magic scored the next eight points, pulling within four. Ellis, though, secured the victory by making six consecutive free throws.
Indiana made only six of 22 shots from 3-point range, but it sank 25 of 29 free throws.
Orlando shot 6-for-31 from long distance, 16-for-17 at the foul line.
The Pacers grabbed the lead early in the third quarter and never lost it, although the Magic pulled to within two points midway in the fourth.
Indiana led 66-59 going into the final period. Ellis scored eight points in the third when the Pacers led by as many as nine points. The Magic struggled in the third with six turnovers that became 10 points for the Pacers.
The Magic led 38-37 at halftime, despite making only one of 14 shots from 3-point range. Orlando was balanced early with Vucevic, Fournier, forward Jason Smith and guard Shabazz Napier each scoring six points.
The Pacers opened with an 11-2 lead when the Magic missed nine of their first 10 shots . The Magic grabbed their first lead, 30-28, on a 3-pointer by Napier midway in the second quarter. George had nine points in the first half.
NOTES: Magic PG Elfrid Payton (sprained left ankle) missed his second consecutive game after playing in the first 116 games of his NBA career. PG C.J. Watson, who was expected to be Payton's backup this season, remains sidelined with a calf injury. ... The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Magic are closer to establishing a central Florida-based NBA Development League team for the 2017-18 season. ... Pacers G George Hill returned to the lineup after missing Monday's game because of food poisoning. ... Pacers G C.J. Miles played despite injuring a shoulder on Monday in Miami . ... Pacers F Paul George already has scored 30 or more points 12 times this season, eclipsing his career high of 11 set in the 2013-14 season. ... The Pacers won for the 10th time in their past 11 meetings with the Magic.