Orlando Magic make game-time calls on Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane

The Orlando Magic are looking to post a .500 record in December

Orlando Magic guards Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane will play in the final game of 2025 after being listed as questionable. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Orlando Magic are starting their New Year celebration early courtesy of good tidings. After missing the past seven games with a hip issue, Jalen Suggs is returning to the lineup. He led the Magic with 26 points last time he was active. Guard Desmond Bane, who had been listed as questionable due to back spasms, is also set to play at the Indiana Pacers.

Orlando is closing out 2025 with a matinee, squaring off against the Pacers in the second leg of a three-game road trip that began with a heartbreaking collapse north of the border. They'll have their usual starting backcourt back, but will be without frontcourt reserve Jonathan Issac.

The Magic are looking to even their record this month at 7-7 while avoiding slipping to 7-10 on the road. Indiana is 5-16 at home, but has won just once in its last seven outings in Indianapolis.

Orlando rallied past Denver on Saturday with some brilliant second-half execution as Anthony Black led the way with a career-high 38 points and some excellent defense down the stretch. The Magic then got a taste of their own medicine up in Canada on Monday, squandering a 21-point lead in a 107-106 loss to the Raptors. Toronto went on a crucial late 13-0 run to swing the game and sealed the win when Paolo Banchero’s 3-pointer at the buzzer failed to connect.

The Pacers have the NBA’s worst record and don’t have much hope of landing even a play-in spot in the East, which means eyes are likely to turn to the draft lottery in 2026 and injured guard Tyrese Haliburton is unlikely to come back for even a week or two. The Magic haven’t won consecutive games in December but have only dropped back-to-back contests once since October. 

INJURY REPORT

MAGIC 

Jalen Suggs: Available - Left Hip Contusion

Desmond Bane: Available - Back spasms

Jonathan Isaac: Out - Sore Left Knee 

Franz Wagner: Out - Left High Ankle Sprain

Moritz Wagner: Out - Left Knee injury recovery

Colin Castleton: Out - G League (Two-way)

PACERS

T.J. McConnell: Probable - Right Hamstring Soreness

Ben Sheppard: Questionable - Left Calf Strain

Isaiah Jackson: Out - Concussion

Tyrese Haliburton: Out - Right Achilles Tendon tear

Obi Toppin: Out - Right Foot Stress Fracture

Vitals - How to Watch Magic at Pacers

Game date, time and location: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3:10 p.m. EST, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Magic), FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (Pacers)

Radio: FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM (Magic), 1070 The Fan (Pacers)

Orlando aims to avoid a losing December against NBA’s worst team 

The Orlando Magic (18-15) visit the Indiana Pacers (6-27) to try and get to 7-7 on the month. 

Aside from Black’s brilliance of late, Orlando is enthused about backup center Goga Bitadze’s return to action. 

Orlando and Indiana will square off again in Central Florida on Jan. 4 as one of only two road games the Pacers will play prior to going on a five-game swing from Jan. 17-26. That contest will be the Magic’s first home date of 2026 and the only one until hosting the 76ers on Jan. 9.

This is the only time these teams will play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. They’ll conclude their run-ins on March 23 in Orlando. The Magic have won five of seven over the Pacers and have claimed the series in three of the last four seasons. They’ve won three of the last four in Indy, including the last encounter between these teams, a 129-115 rout on April 11 in a game where both teams rested most regulars. Trevelin Queen, now playing in China, led the way with 25 points, while Black added 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 20 points.

The Magic trails the all-time series 73-57 and lost four of the first five matchups.

Betting Lines (via DraftKings) 

Spread: Magic -3.5 (-112) Pacers +3.5 (-108)

Moneyline: Magic -170, Pacers +142

Total: 226.5 (Over -112, Under -108)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

PROJECTED STARTERS

MAGIC

G/F Desmond Bane

F Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

G Jalen Suggs

G Anthony Black

PACERS

F Bennedict Mathurin

F Pascal Siakam

C Jay Huff

G Andrew Nembhard

G Johnny Furphy

QUOTABLE

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley on this final game of 2025: "Our ability to just bounce back is going to be very crucial. Get the result we need, go to Indiana and learn from this."