Magic Musings: Orlando can't handle Pacers' torrid shooting in Indiana
With the Indiana Pacers wearing throwback uniforms from the 1990s, the Orlando Magic saw Rodney Stuckey put on a shooting exhibition reminiscent of Reggie Miller in his prime Tuesday night.
Stuckey knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers to help snap the Magic's modest two-game winning streak as the Pacers continued their torrid play of late by rolling to a 118-86 victory.
Even with center Nikola Vucevic in uniform after missing their wins over Sacramento and Boston, the Magic lost their eighth road game in a row and tied their largest margin of defeat all season. Stuckey finished with 34 points, six shy of his career high set in 2008 with the Detroit Pistons, and the Pacers hit 17 3s in all as they improved to 12-2 since Feb. 1, the NBA's best record over that stretch.
Victor Oladipo, who was averaging more than 30 points over the Magic's previous three games and 23 points a game since the All-Star break, finished with only 13 of 4-of-12 shooting and could do little to slow down Stuckey.
Vucevic had 13 points and only five rebounds in 28 minutes after missing two games because of a sore left ankle. The Magic also had both Willie Green and Luke Ridnour back, but Green left the game late in the second quarter with lower back spasms and did not return.
The 59 points that the Pacers had by halftime were the most allowed by the Magic in their 13 games under interim coach James Borrego. And the 17 3-pointers made by the Pacers, which included five by Damjan Rudez, were the most in a game against the Magic this season.
Tobias Harris had 22 points to lead the Magic.
THE TURNING POINT
The Magic led 28-20 late in the first quarter before the Pacers rattled off 18 straight points, including four 3-pointers.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Stuckey tied Golden State's Stephen Curry for the most first-half points in a game this season by an opposing player against the Magic with 25.
STAT OF THE GAME
By the time Stuckey was taken out to a huge ovation with 5:15 remaining, the Pacers had a 67-10 advantage in bench points over the Magic.
WHAT'S NEXT
Wednesday night at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
