Recap: Indiana Pacers 93, Orlando Magic 78

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

BOX SCORE

In the first half of Game 2 between the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers, you couldn’t help but think you were watching a rerun of Game 1 on NBA TV. After a quick start from the Pacers, in which they jumped out to an 11-point lead midway through the first quarter, the Magic slowly chipped away at their deficit and finally gained control of the game in the second quarter.

Just like Game 1.

Except this time, instead of Jameer Nelson picking apart Indiana’s defense in pick-and-roll sets, like he did in the second quarter of Game 1 to help Orlando jump out to a modest lead, it was the defense and Glen Davis that turned the tide momentarily in favor of the Magic in the second quarter of Game 2.

Granted, the Pacers missed some open shots but Orlando contested almost every other shot attempt. Once again, Earl Clark was one of the leading factors of the Magic’s heightened defensive intensity, coming off the bench and giving head coach Stan Van Gundy productive minutes in the period. It wasn’t just Clark giving it his all on defense, either.

Davis was a man possessed in the second quarter, playing with “no conscious” as he put it during his halftime interview. Davis’ energy and effort was off the charts, both on offense where he reeled off eight consecutive points to close out the period and on defense where the likes of Roy Hibbert offensively. Davis fought like it was no tomorrow and at that point in the game, there was no one for Indiana that was willing to match that intensity level.

Perhaps what aided Orlando the most, though, in the first half was their offensive rebounding and three-point shooting. Although the Magic (31.9 percent) shot much worse than the Pacers (47.2 percent) from the floor in the first and second quarters, 12 offensive rebounds (compared to just four for Indiana) allowed Orlando to put up 11 more shot attempts. And considering the Magic made six three-pointers in the first half compared to zero for the Pacers, that explains why Orlando was able to circumvent poor shooting to carry a 44-42 lead into halftime.

Then the third quarter happened.

For those that don’t know, during the regular season, Indiana was one of the best third quarter teams in the NBA. The Pacers’ efficiency differential in third quarters was +9.0, which ranked third in the league this season (only the Philadelphia 76ers were Portland Trail Blazers were better).

So it should come as no surprise, then, that the Magic were seemingly overwhelmed in the third quarter. Indiana came out with their best punch yet of the series, playing like the “uptempo, power post team” that they should be. Orlando, quite frankly, didn’t know how to respond to the Pacers taking things to another gear.

The key difference in the third quarter?

Rebounding.

Those offensive rebounds that served as a lifeboat for the Magic when they missed shots? Gone. Indiana out-rebounded Orlando 16-4 in the third quarter. That hurt the Magic, as they were held to one shot on practically every possession in the period and couldn’t respond to the Pacers’ extended run that ended up deciding the game.

After a Game 1 loss to Orlando, Indiana responded in kind.

MVP (Most Valuable Player)

George Hill scored 12 of his 18 points in the third quarter, serving as the catalyst of the Pacers’ game-changing quarter that helped them win Game 2 (outscoring the Magic 30-13 in the period) after trailing 44-42 at halftime.

Defining Moment

Orlando outscored Indiana 65-63 in three of the four quarters. The problem is that the Magic got beat badly in the third quarter. The Pacers upped their energy level in that period and completely outplayed Orlando at both ends.

That Was … Important

Game 2 technically wasn’t a must-win for Indiana since they weren’t trying to stave off elimination. However, in NBA history, teams that go up 2-0 in a playoff series win 94.2 percent of the time. The Pacers avoid that scenario.

Statistical support for this story from NBA.com.

Recap: Orlando Magic 81, Indiana Pacers 77

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

BOX SCORE

Heading into Game 1, not many people within the mainstream media and blogosphere were giving the Orlando Magic a chance in their first round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Pacers in 5 games seemed to be the most common prediction out there. Head coach Stan Van Gundy noted as much before the game.

And it made sense. Excluding their games against the New York Knicks on April 5 and Philadelphia 76ers on April 7 (in which Dwight Howard played), the Magic went 4-8 without Dwight in the lineup. Defense, to no one’s surprise, became a major issue for Orlando. At the start of April, the Magic ranked 10th in Defensive Rating, allowing 102.5 points per 100 possessions each game. By the end of the regular season, Orlando was allowing 104.1 points per 100 possessions each game (ranking 12th in the NBA).

Quite a jump in the numbers in a month’s time.

With little to no interior presence defensively, opposing teams scored over, under, around, and through the Magic. In April (excluding the Knicks and Sixers games), Orlando’s opponent field goal percentage was 49.7 percent. To put that number in perspective, the Sacramento Kings’ opponent field goal percentage was 47.6 this season (ranked dead last in the league).

That’s what contributed most to Orlando’s slide down the standings.

So with the Pacers ranked 7th in Offensive Rating this season, it’s understandable that many people would predict a lopsided series (it still could happen). Who would stop Roy Hibbert? Who would stop Danny Granger? Who would stop David West?

Turns out the Magic, as a team, could — excluding West, who had 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor.

With all the talk about Orlando’s defense, it wasn’t an issue in Game 1 against Indiana. For the game, the Pacers shot 34.5 percent from the floor. That was a difference in the ballgame for the Magic and one of the primary reasons why they stole a game on the road against Indiana.

That and also the fact that the Pacers could not shut the door on Orlando when they were up 77-70 with 4:05 left in the fourth quarter. Instead, the Magic went on an 11-0 run to end the game, partly due to Indiana shooting themselves in the foot time and again. Two wide open three-pointers missed by Paul George. Two missed free-throws, a missed layup, and a traveling violation by Danny Granger. Failed late game execution — why is Darren Collison taking a long two in isolation down 80-77 with 13.8 seconds left in the game?

And also Jason Richardson.

Yes, Richardson’s 4-year, $25 million contract is an eye-sore because he’s an aging wing player with declining athleticism at the age of 31. But he earned his keep in Game 1 by making two three-point shots in crunch time that fueled Orlando’s sprint to the finish line.

Throughout his career, Richardson has proven time and again in the playoffs that he’s not afraid of the big moment. Thanks to some clutch shooting from Richardson, the Pacers found that out for themselves.

MVP (Most Valuable Player)

“J-Rich” was big, no doubt about it. But it was Jameer Nelson’s ability to break down Indiana’s defense (mostly in the first half) in pick-and-roll sets that put the Magic in a position to win Game 1.

X-Factor

When he wants to be, Earl Clark can be an impact player defensively. And he was, as his defense was a game-changer. Clark is lucky that his two missed free-throws in crunch time didn’t come back to haunt him.

Defining Moment

With 10.3 seconds left in the game and down 80-77 with possession of the basketball, needing a three-pointer to tie, Danny Granger had the ball at the top of the key and he traveled. Then this happened.

That Was … Surprising?

There was a general sense during the game that Indiana was expecting Orlando to roll over. You got that vibe from the crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, too. Instead, the Pacers found themselves in a fight and lost.