Three takeaways as Indiana Pacers beat Orlando Magic for first road win of 2023
The Indiana Pacers finally got a road win, their first in 64 days, on Saturday night. They took down the Orlando Magic in the Amway Center for their first win outside of Indiana in the year 2023.
It was a true team effort for the blue and gold. Everyone who played filled their role and filled it well, and the bench unit was connected. No matter who was in for the Pacers, they looked strong, which has been rare this season.
A strong start set the tone for the night. Indiana has been poor to open games of late, but they were solid in the first frame in Orlando. The blue and gold were ahead 27-25 heading into the second quarter, and they flashed some of their best defensive play in a while.
"It's been a good defensive effort," Pacers assistant coach Ronald Nored said on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast of the game at halftime. He noted that the team had a good presence on the defensive end of the floor.
Nored noted that the team would need to continue that defensive effort into the second half, and doing so would fuel the team's offense. He turned out to be exactly right.
The Pacers held the Magic to 56 points in the second half and scored 70 themselves. They ran away with the game with impressive play on both ends and went on to win 121-108. They're now 27-35.
Despite still struggling of late, Indiana has looked much better in its last four games. They went 2-2 in that stretch, but there are signs that the Pacers are turning a corner with 20 games to go.
A dominant win will help the blue and gold feel confident for the rest of their road trip. They have things that they will hope to repeat in upcoming performances if they want to keep winning, and those things highlight the takeaways from Indiana's win in Orlando.
Tyrese Haliburton was brilliant
Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was simply terrific. He looked like he was having a blast playing, and that attitude helped him perform at a high level.
Haliburton finished with 15 points and 14 assists, and he only needed nine shooting possessions to dominate. He shot 55.6% and added one rebound and one block to his stat line, and he was a +15.
Not only was Haliburton efficient and effective, but he made several flashy passes. He tossed several no-look dimes and set up his teammates for easy buckets all night. He dominated and guided the Pacers to a win.
Jordan Nwora looked his best
New Pacer Jordan Nwora had far and away his best game since being traded to Indiana. He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal. The young forward was brilliant off the bench.
Nwora was resourceful and looked more connected to his teammates. He made several important plays as a shooter and rebounder, and head coach Rick Carlisle left him in with some of the starting five in the second half as a result. The former Bucks player showed why the Pacers pursued him in the past.
"Starting to feel good. Starting to realize where I need to be on the court," Nwora said of fitting in with the second unit on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast after the game. He recently told AllPacers that he is still figuring out a new system.
The 24-year old will hope to have more solid outings as he gets more comfortable with a new team.
Jalen Smith was back in the rotation
Young center Jalen Smith was Indiana's backup five tonight. He played for 19:43, marking the second time he played for more than 10 minutes in the last month. He was out of the rotation entirely for a few games in late January and early February.
In Orlando, Carlisle turned to Smith instead of Daniel Theis, and Smith took advantage. He finished with seven points, seven rebounds, and five blocks in the win. It was one of his most productive outings in 2023.
The 22-year old may see more playing opportunities down the stretch of the season if the Pacers lean towards development in the final 20 games. He was great against the Magic.
Indiana next plays on Tuesday in Dallas against the Mavericks.
- 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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