Game ID: 22500495
Indiana Pacers @ Orlando Magic
Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 28 41 38 28 135IND 36 22 42 27 127
IND @ ORL ScoutingIND @ 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.
ORL availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Fra. Wagner missed 6 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK da Silva back 12/26 after 4, 22 min since (91% of 24)
BACK Cain back 12/22 after 8, 11 min since (80% of 13)
NEW Black 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 20 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 7 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 16 min (104% of 15)
BACK da Silva back 12/26 after 4, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Cain back 12/22 after 8, 9 min since (70% of 13)
NEW Jones 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 19 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 8 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 7 since 12/18, returns tonight: 25 min (89% of 28)
BACK da Silva back 12/26 after 4, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 12/29 after 3, 16 min since (104% of 15)
BACK Cain back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (74% of 13)
NEW Jones 16 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 19 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 9 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 12/31 after 7, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK da Silva back 12/26 after 4, 23 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 12/29 after 3, 17 min since (115% of 15)
NEW Jones 16 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 16 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 10 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 3 since 12/29, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 12)
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 12/31, returns tonight: 12 min (116% of 10)
BACK Suggs back 12/31 after 7, 23 min since (80% of 28)
BACK da Silva back 12/26 after 4, 24 min since (99% of 24)
BACK Bitadze back 12/29 after 3, 17 min since (112% of 15)
NEW Jones 16 to 22 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 11 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Penda missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 27 min (212% of 13)
BACK Suggs back 12/31 after 7, 23 min since (80% of 28)
BACK Bitadze back 12/29 after 3, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 12 min since (116% of 10)
NEW Jones 16 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 16 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT Fra. Wagner missed 12 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Bitadze back 12/29 after 3, 18 min since (116% of 15)
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 27 min since (212% of 13)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 9 min since (74% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 12 min since (115% of 10)
NEW Jones 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Richardson 11 to 18 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 13 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 29 min since (229% of 13)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 11 min since (87% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 11 min since (111% of 10)
NEW Richardson 11 to 17 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 14 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 29 min since (231% of 13)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 10 min since (83% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 10 min since (101% of 10)
NEW Richardson 11 to 20 min over the last 4
IND availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Nesmith missed 19 since 11/15, returns tonight: 19 min (65% of 30)
OUT Sheppard missed 9 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 28 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (17% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (22% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 11)
IND availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 10 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 29 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 19 min since (65% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (23% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 7 min since (62% of 11)
IND availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 11 since 12/05, returns tonight: 19 min (87% of 21)
OUT Toppin missed 30 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 21 min since (72% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 6 min since (35% of 17)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (70% of 11)
IND availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 31 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 25 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 19 min since (87% of 21)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 9 min since (77% of 11)
IND availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 32 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 18 min since (82% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 33 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (93% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 18 min (98% of 18)
OUT Toppin missed 34 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 8 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (92% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 35 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 9 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 21 min since (99% of 21)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 18 min since (98% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 36 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 20 min since (111% of 18)
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 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Black at 24 and Banchero at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (10 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 129, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Toppin (32 straight), Isa. Jackson (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 40 percent from three to Orlando's 32 and the defense, Orlando allowing 117 a night to Indiana's 129. Call it Orlando 121, Indiana 113.
12/27 vs DEN 127-126 — ORL notes
ORL won 127-126. ORL shot 52% (46 of 89) to DEN's 51%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 37 times to DEN's 30 — 25 points from the stripe to their 27. ORL turned it over 6 times to DEN's 16. The glass went 35-49 against them. Black led with 38 (14 of 24, 7 of 11 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Bane added 24, Carter Jr. 18. The hinge was Q4, 43-33: ORL came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. ORL trailed 48-62 at the half and won the second half 79-64. Isaac was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/29 @ TOR 106-107 — ORL notes
ORL lost 106-107. ORL shot 41% (37 of 91) to TOR's 39%, 9 of 32 from three. Black led with 27 (9 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Banchero added 23, Bane 18. Q1 was theirs, 29-18, but the other 3 periods went 89-77 against them. They led by as many as 21.
12/31 @ IND 112-110 — ORL notes
ORL won 112-110. ORL shot 48% (43 of 90) to IND's 43%, 3 of 21 from three. The glass went 49-39 for them. Banchero led with 29 (12 of 21, 5 of 7 at the line); Bane added 18, Black 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-28: from level to 3 ahead.
1/02 @ CHI 114-121 — ORL notes
ORL lost 114-121. ORL shot 50% (43 of 86) to CHI's 50%, 14 of 32 from three. The glass went 36-47 against them. Banchero led with 31 (13 of 23, 2 of 5 from three, 3 of 7 at the line); Black added 18, Bane 14. Q1 was theirs, 32-22, but the other 3 periods went 99-82 against them. They led by as many as 13.
1/04 vs IND 135-127 — ORL notes
ORL won 135-127. ORL shot 56% (47 of 84) to IND's 55%, 15 of 32 from three, and went to the line 34 times to IND's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 16. Bane led with 31 (12 of 17, 3 of 6 from three); Banchero added 28, Black 27. The hinge was Q2, 41-22: ORL came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 11. Richardson was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
1/06 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 18 and Johnson at 15 a game. Without George (5 straight), Watkins (3 straight), Cooper (16 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Black at 25 and Banchero at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Washington giving it away 16 times a game to Orlando's 10 and the line, where Orlando takes 29 free throws a game to Washington's 20. Call it Orlando 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
1/07 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Thomas at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Claxton (2 straight), Saraf (10 straight), Etienne (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Bane at 19 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (12 straight), Suggs (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Brooklyn 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
1/09 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Bane at 17 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (13 straight), Suggs (3 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Embiid at 28 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 15 times a game to Philadelphia's 11. Call it Orlando 119, Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/11 vs NOP — 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 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and Bane at 18 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (14 straight), Suggs (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murphy III at 35 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Bey (5 straight), Jones (2 straight), Murray (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to Orlando's 15. Call it Orlando 118, New Orleans 112.
12/27 @ MIA 116-142 — IND notes
IND lost 116-142. IND shot 49% (46 of 93) to MIA's 51%, 12 of 38 from three. IND turned it over 26 times to MIA's 10, and MIA turned those into 17 steals. Siakam led with 33 (14 of 21, 4 of 6 from three); Mathurin added 25, Nembhard 15. Q2 was theirs, 32-30, turning a 1-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 112-84 against them. Nesmith's -26 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ HOU 119-126 — IND notes
IND lost 119-126. IND shot 50% (44 of 88) to HOU's 59%, 18 of 34 from three. IND turned it over 9 times to HOU's 16. The glass went 29-50 against them. Siakam led with 23 (8 of 16, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Mathurin added 14, Nesmith 14. Q4 was theirs, 41-21, the deficit cut from 27 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 105-78 against them. Huff's -29 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs ORL 110-112 — IND notes
IND lost 110-112. IND shot 43% (36 of 83) to ORL's 48%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-49 against them. Siakam led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 10 at the line); Mathurin added 23, Nembhard 19. Q3 was theirs, 29-26, turning a 2-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 86-81 against them. They led by as many as 10. Huff's -16 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs SAS 113-123 — IND notes
IND lost 113-123. IND shot 51% (44 of 86) to SAS's 45%, 12 of 30 from three, and got to the line 15 times to SAS's 28. The glass went 39-49 against them. Siakam led with 23 (10 of 18); Nembhard added 19, Potter 16. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 101-86 against them. Sheppard's -17 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 @ ORL 127-135 — IND notes
IND lost 127-135. IND shot 55% (48 of 87) to ORL's 56%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ORL's 34. Siakam led with 34 (14 of 21, 2 of 4 from three); Nesmith added 25, Nembhard 20. Q1 was theirs, 36-28, but the other 3 periods went 107-91 against them. They led by as many as 12. Siakam's -12 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 28 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Toppin (33 straight), Isa. Jackson (7 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 16 a game. Without Wade (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 128 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-8. Call it Cleveland 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
1/08 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Kalkbrenner (9 straight), Williams (30 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 123. Call it Charlotte 119, Indiana 113.
1/10 vs MIA — 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 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Nembhard at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight), Toppin (35 straight), Isa. Jackson (9 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 27 and Jaquez Jr. at 15 a game. Without Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-1 a night and Indiana minus-5. Call it Miami 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
1/12 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 21 a game. Without Mathurin (4 straight), Toppin (36 straight), Isa. Jackson (10 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and White at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Minott (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Boston 116, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ORLAB A. Black
DB D. Bane
GB G. Bitadze
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
JR J. Richardson
PB P. Banchero
TJ T. Jones
TD T. da Silva
WC W. Carter Jr.
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BS B. Sheppard
JF J. Furphy
JH J. Huff
JW J. Walker
MP M. Potter
PS P. Siakam
TB T. Bradley
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
Bane, Banchero help Magic hand Pacers 12th straight loss, 135-127
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Desmond Bane scored 31 points, Paolo Banchero added 28 points and 12 rebounds and the Orlando Magic handed the Indiana Pacers their 12th straight loss, 135-127 on Sunday.
Anthony Black had 27 points and 10 assists for the Magic, who beat the Pacers for the second time in five days.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 34 points. Aaron Nesmith had 25 points and eight assists and Andrew Nembard added 20 points and 11 assists for the Pacers, who shot 55.2 % after coming into the game with the NBA's poorest field-goal percentage (43.8%).
Orlando shot 56% overall and made 15 of 32 3-pointers (46.9%).
Seven months after playing in the NBA Finals, the injury-depleted Pacers tied a 43-year-old franchise record with their 12th straight loss. Two of their last three losses were against the Magic, including a 112-110 decision on Dec. 31 at Indianapolis.
Bane scored nine points during a 17-0 run that wiped out an early 12-point Pacers lead.
Siakam kept Indiana in the game with a 20-point third quarter and the Pacers took a one-point lead on a couple of free throws by Nembhard with 7:29 left in the game. Bane answered with a layup, fed Banchero for a 3-pointer and the Magic held on.
Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) missed his 12th game of the season for Indiana.
Jalen Suggs (knee) missed his 13th game for Orlando.
Up next Pacers: Play at home against Cleveland on Tuesday night.