ORLANDO, Fla. — David West had 20 points, reserve Damjan Rudez added a career-high 18, and the Indiana Pacers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 106-99 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.
The Pacers trailed by seven entering the fourth quarter, but got 16 points from Rudez in the final 12 minutes. They outscored the Magic 31-17 in the quarter.
George Hill had 17 points and six rebounds for Indiana in just his second game back from a left groin strain.
Nik Vucevic led four Magic players in double figures with 27 points. Victor Oladipo scored 18.
It was the ninth straight Orlando opponent to score at least 100 points. The Magic fell to 5-20 this season when their opponent reaches triple digits.
The Pacers took a 95-91 lead on a basket by Ian Mahinmi with less than five minutes to play. But Vucevic made two foul shots to tie it at 97 with 2:23 remaining.
Hill then scored the next four points on a layup and a dunk off a steal. Orlando was trailing 102-99 when Indiana ran down the shot clock and got Rudez free for a 3 from the corner with less 30 seconds remaining.
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said before the game that he hoped the insertion of rookie Aaron Gordon into the starting lineup for the first time this season would inspire his team to rededicate itself on defence.
A faster start offensively was on Pacers coach Frank Vogel’s wish list.
Neither got what he wanted early on.
Indiana started sluggish, before settling in offensively on their way to a 51-49 halftime lead.
Orlando couldn’t keep the Pacers out of the paint, allowing Indiana to shoot 54 per cent (23 of 42) for the half, and 51 per cent for the game.
——
TIP-INS
Pacers: Indiana had eight steals and five blocks. …C.J. Miles sat out with a sore left groin. He is day to day.
Magic: Orland had 22 assists on its 38 field goals. … The Magic had zero offensive rebounds in the first half and nine for the game.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Toronto on Tuesday in the opener of a five-game homestand.
Magic: At Memphis on Monday.
