Indiana Pacers game preview: Pacers travel to Orlando as Rookie of the Year candidates battle
The Indiana Pacers travel to Orlando tonight to take on the Magic. Both teams have 35 losses and are close in the standings, whichever team wins tonight will exit the day in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers beat the Magic twice in November of 2022, but Orlando beat Indiana more recently in January. The Magic have grown significantly over the course of the season.
Goga Bitadze, who was waived by the Pacers at the trade deadline, signed with Orlando last week. Tonight is his first game against the Pacers in his career.
Viewing and Betting Information
Tip off time: 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Where to watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Indiana/Bally Sports+, Bally Sports Florida
Spread and Over/Under: The Pacers are slight underdogs as they are +2.5 in the SI Sportsbook. The over/under for the game is 231.5.
Pacers vs Magic Injury Report
For the Pacers, guard Trevelin Queen and wing Kendall Brown are questionable as they may be in the G League as a part of their two-way contracts.
For the Magic, Kevon Harris and Caleb Houstan are out.
Key Matchups
Bennedict Mathurin vs Paolo Banchero: The two Rookie of the Year favorites will battle tonight as Banchero and Mathurin duel for the second time. In January, Banchero had 23 points against the Pacers while Mathurin had 26.
Mathurin is averaging 17.2 points per game while Banchero is averaging 19.7. Both players have been excellent all year long, and they will look to show how talented they are tonight.
Myles Turner vs Wendell Carter Jr: Myles Turner is fresh off of a 40-point masterpiece against the Celtics on Thursday while Wendell Carter Jr had 14 points and 14 rebounds against the Pistons on the same night. Both big men are in form right now.
The starting centers are both mobile yet physical and can score on the interior and on the perimeter. Each player is crucial to his team's success tonight.
- Myles Turner shows off improved offensive skills with a 40-point game vs Boston Celtics. CLICK HERE.
- Buddy Hield sets the Indiana Pacers franchise record for three pointers made in a single season. CLICK HERE.
- AllPacers goes one-on-one with new Indiana Pacers forward Jordan Nwora, CLICK HERE, and guard Trevelin Queen. CLICK HERE.
- Malcolm Brogdon returns to Indiana with fond memories of his Pacers tenure. CLICK HERE.
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- Follow AllPacers on Twitter: @SIPacers
