First period of spring forward found the Pacers pumped to prove they were a team to be reckoned with. The only problem, the Magic don’t take kindly to intimidation. With two mid-range powerhouses set for tip, Orlando began one starter short; Hedo sat this one out due to an illegal contact.
Coming off a recent impressive win over the league leading Bulls, The Magic lost the opening tip, held onto the first rebound of the game, and missed one of their own. The Pacers packed their first rebound without rebut and, within seconds, Howard earned the first team foul. Starting off the blocks cold, neither team hit their first three attempts.
Granger broke the ice, followed by an in-your-face from Nelson.
With five minutes played in the first, an official timeout establish a Magic lead, 16 to 12. With little debate, the Magic’s defense held tough AND their offense shook itself to life. Who knows, maybe beating the Chicago Bulls was no fluke at all? Just saying… on this note, first ended with a plethora of Howard highlights.
Orlando led 36 to 22, here’s the first quarter scoop:
- Showcasing a balanced attack, Nelson and Redick played exceptionally well, scoring 7 and 9 respectively
- Howard turned the Pacers defense into butter as he sliced and spread at will, hitting an impressive 5 of 6 for a total of 11 points
- Danny Granger played with passion, proving himself to be amongst the elite, ending with 8 points of his own
Back for the second, the Magic’s Duhon drew first blood by netting a 3, Orlando up by 17. Throughout the quarter, sloppiness defined Indiana as they never found a grip on the game.
Without fault of my own, the lack of intensity forced my mind to scamper to events other than the here and now… truth be told, I wondered how the college tournament brackets were coming along. Pulling myself back, I began to hope the final half would be more competitive, knowing it won’t… then again, we are talking about the Orlando Magic!
Halftime stats confirm the cut:
- Magic hit the 50-point mark with 7 minutes and 30 seconds to play
- Orlando’s largest lead of the first half: 24
- Orlando scored ONLY 6 points since the 7:30 mark in the second
- Pacers led fast break points, 12 to 4 (hey, I’m trying here)
With Orlando leading 56 to 45, the half ended with a thud. The only question filling this arena was: you guessed it, what’s this about the Orlando Ballet joining forces with Cirque du Soleil®?
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, Cirque du Soleil® and the Orlando Ballet will present a one-of-a-kind choreographic project featuring young emerging talent from both companies. Under the guidance of Orlando Ballet Artistic Director, Robert Hill and La Nouba Artistic Director Daniel Ross, the two groups will present A Choreographers’ Showcase, a Project Designed to Stimulate and Encourage Artistic Growth. Check it out with me beginning at 6:00 pm tomorrow night at the La Nouba Theater, Downtown Disney® West Side.
Enough of the plug, let’s do this second half right. Magic brought the ball in, fed Howard, and fell victim to a turnover. Granger returned with all net while Ryan kissed a three off the front rim. Resembling a tennis match, two teams volleyed, neither reached love until the 5 minute mark of the quarter. Orlando secured a confident cushion, 20 points (80 to 60) as Howard swished two free throws.
Consistently unkind, Indiana couldn’t adjust to the time change or Magic hex as they resembled a modern-day Sisyphus.
With Orlando putting the Pacers in their place, leading 91 to 64, the third quarter recapped as follows:
- Howard ruled the court, capturing 30 points (making 11 of 14 attempts) and grabbing 12 rebounds
- The Pacers’ Paul George held his own with 22 points, hitting 10 of 17 attempts
The final quarter mirrored the first three quarters… somewhat mind-numbing.
Overall, the Orlando Magic played with a high level of intensity and a commitment to pressure the ball previously concealed. Who knows, perhaps with a little nudge, Orlando City Beautiful will host this season’s NBA Finals!
Final score: Orlando Magic 107, Indiana Pacers 94.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Downtown Disney and cheering our talented Orlando Ballet with the awe-inspiring Cirque du Soleil®, I am
Danny Huffman
Education Career Services
Shadow me on Twitter: @dannyatecs
