Game ID: 22300391
Orlando Magic @ Indiana Pacers
Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 27 32 33 18 110ORL 36 37 20 24 117
IND vs ORL ScoutingIND vs ORL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
IND availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backOUT Nembhard missed 3 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/13 after 3, 7 min since (47% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 12/13 after 7, 5 min since (50% of 10)
IND availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 4 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/13 after 3, 10 min since (68% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 12/13 after 7, 7 min since (67% of 10)
IND availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 5 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 9 since 11/30, returns tonight: 8 min (50% of 16)
BACK Sheppard back 12/13 after 3, 10 min since (68% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 12/13 after 7, 9 min since (91% of 10)
NEW Jackson 13 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Nembhard missed 6 since 12/11, returns tonight: 16 min (61% of 26)
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Smith back 12/20 after 9, 8 min since (50% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 12/13 after 7, 9 min since (90% of 10)
NEW Jackson 13 to 18 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Nembhard back 12/21 after 6, 16 min since (61% of 26)
BACK Smith back 12/20 after 9, 8 min since (50% of 16)
NEW Jackson 13 to 18 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Sheppard missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Nembhard back 12/21 after 6, 26 min since (99% of 26)
BACK Smith back 12/20 after 9, 11 min since (71% of 16)
IND availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Bru. Brown missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Nembhard back 12/21 after 6, 29 min since (109% of 26)
BACK Smith back 12/20 after 9, 15 min since (95% of 16)
NEW Hield 26 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Bru. Brown missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT McConnell missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 12 min (66% of 19)
OUT Sheppard missed 6 since 12/18, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 16)
OUT Nwora missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 1 min (11% of 10)
BACK Nembhard back 12/21 after 6, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Smith back 12/20 after 9, 18 min since (110% of 16)
NEW Hield 26 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Bru. Brown missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nembhard back 12/21 after 6, 29 min since (108% of 26)
BACK McConnell back 12/30 after 2, 12 min since (66% of 19)
BACK Sheppard back 12/30 after 6, 1 min since (7% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 12/30 after 4, 1 min since (11% of 10)
NEW Hield 26 to 31 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 15 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 10 min since (62% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (90% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/20 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 20 since 11/04, returns tonight: 23 min (91% of 26)
OUT Fultz missed 17 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (94% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 27 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Fultz missed 18 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 23 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (89% of 16)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 19 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 3 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 22 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 14 min since (88% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Suggs missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 29 min (106% of 28)
OUT Fultz missed 20 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 4 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 20 min since (80% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Fultz missed 21 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 5 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 29 min since (106% of 28)
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 21 min since (80% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 22 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 6 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 21 min since (81% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Gar. Harris missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 32 min (134% of 24)
OUT Fultz missed 23 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 7 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/26 after 2, 30 min since (107% of 28)
NEW Black 16 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Houstan 13 to 19 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 16 and Nesmith at 15 a game. Without Sheppard (3 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 21 and F. Wagner at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Fultz (19 straight), Ingles (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 114 a night to Indiana's 129 and the arc, Indiana at 37 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Indiana 119, Orlando 118, Orlando keeping it close.
12/16 @ MIN 109-127 — IND notes
IND lost 109-127. IND shot 50% (45 of 90) to MIN's 56%, 6 of 21 from three. Brown led with 17 (8 of 14, 1 of 3 from three); Nesmith added 17, Turner 12. Q2 was theirs, 35-34, the deficit cut from 3 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 93-74 against them. Brown's -20 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs LAC 127-151 — IND notes
IND lost 127-151. IND shot 52% (49 of 95) to LAC's 57%, 12 of 33 from three. The glass went 34-46 against them. Mathurin led with 34 (12 of 20, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Jackson added 15, Toppin 14. Q1 was theirs, 38-37, but the other 3 periods went 114-89 against them. Haliburton's -37 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs CHA 144-113 — IND notes
IND won 144-113. IND shot 61% (49 of 80) to CHA's 47%, 18 of 39 from three, and went to the line 30 times to CHA's 19 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Hield led with 25 (8 of 13, 4 of 8 from three); Haliburton added 19, Nesmith 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-26: a lead of 11 became 21, and the lead reached 33. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
12/21 @ MEM 103-116 — IND notes
IND lost 103-116. IND shot 42% (38 of 90) to MEM's 51%, 18 of 52 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 21 fouls committed. Toppin led with 22 (8 of 14, 5 of 9 from three); Haliburton added 17, Turner 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-23, the deficit cut from 13 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 93-69 against them. Nesmith's -23 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 vs ORL 110-117 — IND notes
IND lost 110-117. IND took 9 more shots (82 to 73), but shot 52% to ORL's 53%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 13 times to ORL's 41. Haliburton led with 29 (12 of 22, 3 of 5 from three); Turner added 24, Hield 20. Q3 was theirs, 33-20, the deficit cut from 14 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 97-77 against them. Mathurin's -24 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Smith Jr. at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Haliburton at 18 and Turner at 17 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to Indiana's 18. Call it Houston 122, Indiana 117.
12/28 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and White at 20 a game. Without LaVine (13 straight), Craig (5 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Turner at 19 a game. Without Bru. Brown (2 straight), Sheppard (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 106 a night to Indiana's 123 and the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Chicago's 34. Call it Chicago 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
12/30 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 24 and Turner at 20 a game. Without Bru. Brown (3 straight), McConnell (2 straight), Sheppard (6 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Randle at 28 and Brunson at 27 a game. Without Robinson (10 straight), McBride (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 42 percent from three to New York's 33 and the line, where New York takes 26 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Indiana 122, New York 116.
1/01 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lillard at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Crowder (23 straight). 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Haliburton at 24 and Turner at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Bru. Brown (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 27 free throws a game to Indiana's 18 and the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-3. Call it Milwaukee 124, Indiana 120, Indiana keeping it close.
12/15 @ BOS 111-128 — ORL notes
ORL lost 111-128. ORL shot 48% (42 of 87) to BOS's 52%, 14 of 35 from three. ORL turned it over 21 times to BOS's 10, and BOS turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 45-34 for them. Suggs led with 19 (7 of 12, 5 of 9 from three); F. Wagner added 17, Anthony 17. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 23 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 101-78 against them. Banchero's -13 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/17 @ BOS 97-114 — ORL notes
ORL lost 97-114. ORL shot 38% (34 of 89) to BOS's 47%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 24 times to BOS's 8 — 18 points from the stripe to their 7. ORL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. The glass went 43-55 against them. Banchero led with 36 (14 of 30, 4 of 10 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Suggs added 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 87-66 against them. They led by as many as 10. Harris's -26 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs MIA 106-115 — ORL notes
ORL lost 106-115. ORL shot 46% (41 of 89) to MIA's 48%, 9 of 36 from three. The glass went 49-39 for them. Anthony led with 20 (8 of 13, 2 of 5 from three); F. Wagner added 15, Suggs 11. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 89-72 against them. Suggs's -23 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ MIL 114-118 — ORL notes
ORL lost 114-118. ORL took 9 more shots (99 to 90), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to MIL's 42%, 8 of 33 from three, and got to the line 23 times to MIL's 35. ORL turned it over 7 times to MIL's 13. F. Wagner led with 29 (13 of 23, 1 of 6 from three); Banchero added 23, M. Wagner 21. Q4 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 91-82 against them. Carter Jr.'s -27 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ IND 117-110 — ORL notes
ORL won 117-110. ORL shot 53% (39 of 73) to IND's 52%, 6 of 18 from three, and went to the line 41 times to IND's 13 — 33 points from the stripe to their 9. Banchero led with 34 (11 of 20, 12 of 16 at the line); F. Wagner added 24, Harris 15. The hinge was Q1, 36-27: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 15.
12/26 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Suggs (2 straight), Fultz (20 straight), Ingles (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the arc, Washington at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Washington 118, Orlando 117, Orlando keeping it close.
12/27 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and F. Wagner at 21 a game. Without Fultz (21 straight), Ingles (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 41 and Maxey at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Batum (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 40 percent from three to Orlando's 31 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 107 a night to Orlando's 115. Call it Philadelphia 117, Orlando 111.
12/29 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 24 and Banchero at 22 a game. Without Fultz (22 straight), Ingles (6 straight), Isaac (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Randle at 26 a game. Without Robinson (9 straight), McBride (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Orlando 115, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
12/31 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eubanks (2 straight), Bates-Diop (6 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 27 and Banchero at 26 a game. Without Gar. Harris (2 straight), Fultz (23 straight), Ingles (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Orlando minus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Orlando's 29. Call it Phoenix 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JI J. Isaac
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
WC W. Carter Jr.
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BH B. Hield
BM B. Mathurin
IJ I. Jackson
JS J. Smith
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
ORL/IND the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Paolo Banchero scores 34 points, Magic beat Pacers 117-110 to snap 4-game losing streak
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Paolo Banchero scored 34 points and the Orlando Magic snapped a four-game skid with a 117-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Banchero shot 11 of 20 from the field and made 12 of 16 free throws. Franz Wagner added 24 points for the Magic.
“Obviously dropping four straight, we were desperate to get back in the win column,” Banchero said. “So everyone was really focused on what we had to do to win the game. We knew it was going to be defense that we had to do it with”
Tyrese Haliburton had 29 points and 14 assists for the Pacers. Myles Turner scored 24 and Buddy Hield 20.
A disappointed Haliburton wasn't pleased with his own play.
“I've been bad for the last week and a half,” he said. “I've been hurting the team more than I've been helping it.”
Orlando shot 53% from the field, just one percentage point better than the Pacers. The difference was at the line where the Magic made 33 of 41 attempts while the Pacers went 9 for 13.
“I love that we played the right way," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “People always say what is the right way. It’s taking what the game gives you. You’re not forcing it. You’re not chasing it. You’re finding the right situation.”
The Pacers attempted to make up the difference from 3-point range, hitting 15 shots from long distance compared to six for the Magic.
The Pacers rallied from a 14-point deficit and pulled within one at 93-92 after three quarters. The Pacers briefly held an 84-81 lead.
"They came out firing after halftime and we expected that," Mosley said. "Our guys did not blink. They say, ‘OK we have to settled ourselves down.’ We executed offensively and then down the stretch we got some big time stops.”
Orlando regained control down the stretch and finished with a 39-33 edge in rebounding.
The Magic did much of their damage inside, shooting nearly 62% and building a 73-59 lead by halftime. Banchero scored 23 points in the first half, hitting 7 of 8 shots and 9 of 11 free throws. The Pacers shot 49% from the field before intermission.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said committing 30 fouls was a killer. Several players were in foul trouble and Andrew Nesmith fouled out.
“The foul differential and free throw differential is pretty embarrassing,” Carlisle said.
Haliburton said the foul problems are because the Pacers are out of position a lot as a team.
“Teams live at the free throw line and it allows them to set their defense,” Haliburton said.
The Magic were without starting guard Jalen Suggs , who missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left wrist. Gary Harris , who is from the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, started in Suggs’ place and scored 15 points.
Pacers guard Bruce Brown was sidelined with a bone bruise in his right knee. Andrew Nembhard , who scored 17 points, started in his place.
“We are what our record is now, a .500 team (14-14),” Carlisle said. “We've had some high highs and low lows.”
UP NEXT
Magic: At Washington on Tuesday in the finale of a three-game trip.
Pacers: Open a two-game trip at Houston on Tuesday.