@@Orlando Magic

Post Game Thread: The Orlando Magic defeat The Indiana Pacers 117-110

  • December 24, 2023


#Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers

Gainbridge Fieldhouse- Indianapolis, IN

[ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401585019)

[TV/Radio](https://reddit.com/r/OrlandoMagic/comments/18phdbi/game_thread_orlando_magic_1611_at_indiana_pacers/keo5n8j/)

***

|Time Clock|
|:–:|
|Final|

||Q1|Q2|Q3|Q4|Total|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|ORL |36|37|20|24|117|
|IND |27|32|33|18|110|

###Player Stats

**Orlando Magic**

|Player|MINS|PTS|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|ORB|DRB|REB|AST|STL|BLK|TO|PF|+/-|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|F. Wagner|36:18|24|8-14|0-2|8-8|1|5|6|0|1|0|1|4|0
|P. Banchero|36:14|34|11-20|0-0|12-16|1|6|7|4|1|0|3|1|-2
|W. Carter Jr.|16:29|4|2-6|0-1|0-0|3|5|8|4|0|0|1|1|-16
|G. Harris|34:30|15|5-9|2-4|3-3|0|1|1|3|2|0|3|2|0
|A. Black|28:26|8|2-3|0-0|4-4|0|3|3|2|1|1|2|2|-3
|C. Anthony|24:13|12|4-11|2-6|2-4|1|5|6|3|1|0|0|3|7
|C. Houstan|20:32|6|2-4|2-4|0-0|1|2|3|0|1|0|1|3|17
|M. Wagner|20:02|9|3-3|0-0|3-4|2|1|3|3|0|0|0|1|12
|J. Isaac|11:49|4|2-3|0-1|0-0|0|1|1|1|0|3|0|0|9
|G. Bitadze|11:25|1|0-0|0-0|1-2|1|0|1|2|2|1|2|1|11

**Indiana Pacers**

|Player|MINS|PTS|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|ORB|DRB|REB|AST|STL|BLK|TO|PF|+/-|
|:–|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|–:|
|B. Hield|38:28|20|7-15|5-11|1-1|1|6|7|2|1|1|2|4|11
|O. Toppin|24:28|3|1-6|0-3|1-2|0|6|6|0|0|1|0|2|2
|M. Turner|29:19|24|9-11|2-4|4-4|1|6|7|0|1|4|1|4|18
|A. Nembhard|36:24|17|8-10|1-1|0-0|1|0|1|5|0|0|1|2|14
|T. Haliburton|39:54|29|12-22|3-5|2-3|0|2|2|14|3|0|3|2|8
|B. Mathurin|16:18|2|1-5|0-2|0-0|0|2|2|1|0|0|1|1|-24
|J. Smith|14:38|11|4-5|3-4|0-1|1|1|2|1|0|0|2|5|-19
|A. Nesmith|27:45|3|1-5|1-4|0-0|1|2|3|2|2|0|4|6|-20
|I. Jackson|5:56|0|0-2|0-0|0-0|2|1|3|0|0|0|0|4|-8
|T. McConnell|6:50|1|0-1|0-0|1-2|0|0|0|2|0|0|1|0|-17
###Team Stats

|Team|FGM-A|3PM-A|FTM-A|AST|PF|STL|TO|BLK|OREB|DREB|REB|
|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|:–|
|ORL|39-73|6-18|33-41|22|18|9|13|5|10|29|46|
|IND|43-82|15-34|9-13|27|30|7|15|6|7|26|39|

***

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32 comments

  2. I love that in the last 10 seconds of the game all the Pacers broadcast was talking about how much of a better coach Carlisle is than Mose and how the Pacers made “winning plays” where as the Magic just went to the line. Sad lmao

  3. Yesssss💪💪💪🔥🔥🔥
    Loved that win!!!
    Paolo had the i’m better than all you head on again😤

  4. Amazing response to that 3rd quarter run they had. Gonna be very interesting how Mose figures out this center rotation. All 3 of our centers are good enough to deserve min

  5. this team deserves a better fan base on here. great win, they held it together and played tough

  8. I cannot believe the day has come where I was excited to see Goga in instead of WCJ, but here we are.

  10. Markelle, Jett, Chuma and a bunch of first round picks for Haliburton? Doubt he stays there long term, so a guy can dream lol

    For real tho, I’d like to see us get Hield as a FA

  15. Isaac needs more minutes. Throw his stat line tonight out the window, it doesn’t tell the story of how impactful he actually is.

  19. It’s interesting watching Paolo play. If fouls were getting called every time he was fouled, he would have 30 FT a game. However, because he’s so big a lot of them don’t get called. I think it gets in his head, and he stops being so aggressive because he’s frustrated at lack of shots and lack of calls – when in reality he should be MORE aggressive.

  21. The fact that I’m pleasantly surprised and happy with 33% from 3 is sad, but I’ll take what I can get. If Gary can find his shot again and Ingles and Suggs return soon we could get another win streak going again. Houstan hit some big shots too. Obviously Paolo is HIM though. 34 and they doubled him half the time.

  23. Second half officiating was disappointing to say the least. Pacers need to worry about learning to to foul not the refs. They commit the most foul for a reason.
    We are such a hard counter to the pacers play-style. Love it.

  24. Pretty soon we’ll have to run the Paolo system (like the LeBron system). Just give him the ball and let him make all the magic.

  25. Really puzzling how good Franz and Paolo are playing with – with all due respect – Black and Goga. That line-up somehow works so well. Glad we closed with it. Seeing WCJ today.. kinda makes me anxious for getting Fultz back as well. They should be obvious upgrades…. Should..

  26. The live thread was like demolition derby! It’s good though, fans gotta keep em in check and grounded. I’m glad they got the W! At least we can now say Happy Holidays much happier. Side note, I actually mistakenly put this comment in the live thread lol. Enjoy your Christmas eve if you celebrating. To others have a great one too!

  27. AB played a solid game. Hit all his free throws and played hard defense the whole night. Also was more aggressive in driving to the basket for a layup rather than looking to pass everytime. Hope he continues to look to drive to the hoop more with intentions to score.

  28. Just read the live thread and if I simply had to guess how we played, we lost by 30 judging the comments. Hope at some point this negativity stops and more ppl root for this team even when playing bad. (They did not play bad tonight)

    Luckily I watched this entertaining game (ok, 3rd quarter was a mess) with a stellar defensive performance. Also they closed the game very mature, took maximum from the clock each possession (and one too much…)

  30. Badly needed this win tonight for mental purposes as well as just needing to break the losing streak. Paolo continues to just get better and better

  31. I dont want to always sound negative even when this team is winning as honestly I am a sincere fan and just love good basketball winning or losing and being negative every game is annoying.

    So for some good to begin with, Paolo is a superstar, I will continue to say it, the guy was a top 10 player in the NBA and to me had a top 10 introduction to the league and would have been an AS if BB wasn’t starting (I truly believe it). Those first few weeks before injury when he joined the NBA the guy was something else. He was aggressive, poised, dynamic and unstoppable. I saw it almost instantly, that he is the future Lebron with a better advance dribble and shot package, but clearly not the instinctual otherworldly athlete but no slouch athletically either.

    Paolo is more of a current Demar or Melo type with a splash of current Lebron (I truly think Paolo is just unique), his skillset is methodical in nature, using calculated moves from years of practice, always searching for his spots, to get into his motions and on occasion using his burst of speed, size and athleticism to his advantage. He was a bit more athletic and dominant those first few games, that had me thinking he was a rookie AS then he stopped doing it and became a foul merchant. I honestly believe refs noticed his change, he was getting a legendary whistle in his early career because he was not looking for fouls and was trying to finish with contact and refs had no choice. He came back after that injury (I am sure with counsel) more ready to use the rulebook to his advantage and that to me was unfortunate but maybe necessary. However, every so often, Paolo goes back into that I dont care, I am bigger, stronger, and more skillful than you mode, and its fantastic to watch, its truly unique in nature, its not a Cav Lebron/Giannis fast twitch style, or a slow methodical Demar/Detroit Blake style, its the mix thats amazing. Not to forget his advanced shotmaking and deadly hesi and sizeup to stepback.

    I truly am telling yall to vote for Poalo for AS, I just dont understand why I see some Magic fans saying he isn’t ready. The Magic are 4th in the East. Paolo dominated more games than not. Just because some players in worse teams are dropping more regularly to losses shouldn’t impact Paolo, playing a more winning approach. Its a stars league and when its a direct H2H Paolo has shown he can stay eye to eye with the best. What else is there needed to be discussed. The guy is an AS in all sense of the word. He was #8 his rookie year, to actually little debate about, like nobody save a salty Bam even mentioned he was getting promoted because LITERALLY THE MAGIC HAD NO COVERAGE. Every player, every fan, every journalist, who paid any attention knew that the Magic were getting 0 coverage and were actually being forcefully overshadowed by any story that could be pushed. They tried all they could to make Paolo not be a thing, and even with 0 help nationally fans from all across the country were voting Paolo as an AS starter because he was decimating their teams and they saw it. Remember who was in that pool of bigs, above Paolo, KD, Giannis, Embiid, Tatum, Jimmy Pascal, Kuzma. Literally only Kuzma seems out of place and clearly he was getting top votes even while being terrible on the Lakers. Kuzma IS A MEDIA DARLING/ fan darling, but Paolo was not and we all knew it.

    Paolo is SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER this season. He has complete takeover ability and is making sure to do that while making his team win. Its a decent leap but also him completely getting accustomed to the NBA and finding his spot. Paolo is an AS do not get into that “he is not ready” debate that media are trying to push so the Magic once again get 0 attention. He is dominating vs other superstar, He is ready.

    Also give Franz some love if you want for All Stars, I think he is also ready but as a reserve. He has elite 2nd option written all over him. Franz can takeover also, and defense absolutely gameplan against him and many times double mark him but I think Paolo has been better this season all around. I doubt both make it unless Orlando makes another run but I also dont think Franz is not a top Forward in the East and if he get called by the coaches, I wouldn’t think somebody got robbed (this is coming from an unbiased/sincere eye honestly).

    Some more good, sticking to Franz the guy is a great connector, he works great with the bench unit, and was cooking during some crucial moments. Looked pretty spry and flexible out there, completely fooling any big that tried to guard him. I really dont know what happened to his shot, but he hit a couple nice midis and thats always welcomed. I truly think he is worth a #1 pick in a redraft and I will continue to say that unless I see something that changes my opinion. Scottie averaging 24 isn’t going to change my opinion. Cade dropping 30 isn’t going to. Franz is a 6’10 dude that is averaging 20+ while having a terrible year from all standouts, this is his wall. He never really hit that wall except I think a short stint his rookie year, but he hit the wall, and is trying to put everything together. Scottie hit his last season, Green did also last season(or this one), and Franz hit his now. Once he puts everything together, brings back his shooting or at least make it respectable again, and keep his active hands and switchable offense and defense that allows him to cook or guard essentially anybody, the guy is going to be one of the most wanted players in the League. It honestly could be a situation in which Paolo is the best player on this team but Franz is the guy everybody wants, cause he just fits everywhere and is so intelligent and non-selfish on the court (Paolo is also non-selfish but I think yall get the point).

    AB deserves so much praise this game, I saw NCAA Black this game. A disruptive menace, that is a great connector, elite (best in class) perimeter defender, and a foul merchant who has sneaky handles at points but on straight line drives is going to go hard to the rim and either pick up the call or make the layup. He made many great reads this game, still had a few (or 1 that I remember honestly) really bad TO but generally he was diming up guys. I think AB fits. He is a starter. Many people want to drop him back to 3rd string and I honestly do not understand it. The guy is going to develop offensively, we had multiple players that needed to do that recently, Wendell was a nonshooter and became one (or at least a respectable 3pt shooter) in 1 half season and offseason, RJ non shooter to shooter in the same time period, Paolo the same in the 1 full season and 1 offseason, Franz the same. I dont know if any of yall remember but from what I remember Franz wasnt a shooter his first season with us, then we saw him lighting things up in EB, then in year 2, that jump followed. AB is going to grow an offensive package, but his defense fits so well with Franz and Paolo. He is a gap closer, a great help defender, and a great perimeter defender, he is long and has active hands. If he can keep up the offball movement, bring back his college free throw merchant status, and find back his corner 3, what else do we need? The guy is literally the best fit outside of maybe a 38 percent from three 3&D shooter, and even then I think AB fits pretty well. The game is played on 2 fronts like all sports or war, Offense and Defense, and AB fits perfectly on the defensive side, finding the shooter we want is finding somebody who fits on the offensive side. Best fit is maybe the middle ground but going heavily defense and aiming for AB to find an offensive game is not a bad move imo. Its an already proven winning strategy (#2 in the East), and if AB keeps working on it, like we actually have loads of video proof of him doing and many reports of him taking every miss to heart and staying overtime and seriously trying his best to get better, then he should be fine now and later as a starter.

    Going into the negatives but mixing a bit of positives. Talking about AB and the other core guys, Goga cant be left out even if he played little mins. Tale of 2 faces Goga +11 in 11 mins, Wendell -16 in 16 mins. Goga is the better fit. This is literally a replay of the BB over Mo Bamba situation, Mo would come in, instantly in 10 mins have a +12 or something, help bring a deficit close then get benched for BB to secure the tank. Anyway back to Goga, the guy was great, I do like that he closed the game but Mosley needs to stop playing around and start him. I understand all the optics about getting injured and losing your spot but THATS WHAT A COACH NEEDS TO DO. He found the winning strat (something I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR AS SOON AS GOGA WAS BROUGHT IN) and Mosley never tried it out, till forced. Once he tried it, the Magic started winning.

    You dont just walk into being a #2 seed for more than half of a season. Mosley is fireable for doing this again and messing with easily discernable winning lineups. I just dont understand his logic for continually ruining lineups that are obvious from the eye test and backed up by stats. Wendell is not a center. Gary is a blackhole (even if he was ok this game, he is not needed). Guess who played just as good as Gary and can replace him today and fits better? Caleb! Caleb was fantastic, +17 in 21 mins. Mosley needs to do his job and make winning lineups. He plays favorites/salary so often and its annoying for me who just wants this team to win and have fun while doing it. It looked so miserable those BB games cause players were often confused on how to cover his flaws and Mosley apparently saw nothing wrong with it. Synergistic lineups are the key, and Mosley is allergic. This team is ready but our coach/fo are not until they make those hard calls on trades or benching. MF(Personally dont mind keeping him), WC, GH are expendable but I also think AB, JS, FW, PB, GB with MF, CA, JOE/CALEB(situationally), MW/JI/WC (situational) is decent.

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