With their postseason spots practically set, the Indiana Pacers and visiting Orlando Magic may select to relaxation just a few starters when the groups meet on Friday evening.
Indiana (49-31) clinched a top-four seed and home-court benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs with a 114-112 dwelling win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
“Congratulations to the blokes,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated. “Congratulations to the followers who have been a giant a part of it. Nevertheless it’s not a vacation spot. It is merely a software.”
Indiana holds the No. 4 seed within the Japanese Convention and trails the No. 3 New York Knicks (50-30) by one sport with two video games remaining. The Knicks would clinch the No. 3 seed with both a victory or an Indiana loss.
Orlando (40-40) clinched the No. 7 seed within the East and the highest spot within the play-in match with a 96-76 dwelling win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
The Magic have gained 4 straight video games and can host the No. 8 seed — both the Miami Warmth, Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks — on Tuesday.
“Extraordinarily pleased with this group,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “Greater than something, having the ability to endure by all of the issues — the accidents, guys in, guys out — and nonetheless come away with … giving your self a secured seventh for the chance to get into the playoffs (is laudable).”
Franz Wagner scored 23 factors and Cole Anthony added 18 within the win over Boston, which rested most of its regulars. Wagner has 20 or extra factors in 12 straight video games.
“That was a fantastic staff win,” Anthony stated. “Everybody contributed. It wasn’t significantly an in depth sport. Clearly, they did not play a majority of their guys, however that is the league. And each time you step on the courtroom and deal with enterprise, that is a plus. Massive shout-out to the staff. That is win, and now we have to maintain constructing off of this.”
Orlando has gained two of the three conferences with Indiana this season. The groups final met on Nov. 13, when Wagner scored a game-high 29 factors within the Magic’s 94-90 victory.
Coming into the Friday sport, Orlando listed injured Wendell Carter Jr. (hip), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (knee), Cory Joseph (knee), Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Wagner (knee) as questionable.
Caldwell-Pope was restricted to seven minutes towards Boston as a consequence of his sore left knee.
Indiana has gained six straight video games and desires yet another victory to safe its first 50-win season since 2013-14. After struggling early within the season, the Pacers are 33-13 for the reason that calendar turned to 2025.
“It is particular for us realizing what we have been by to get right here,” Indiana level guard Tyrese Haliburton stated. “We’re a sport away from a 50-win season. It is a particular 12 months, particularly the way it began. We do not take that evenly.”
Haliburton had 23 factors, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks within the Thursday win over Cleveland, which rested 4 starters. The Pacers improved to 25-3 this season when Haliburton scores 20 or extra factors.
Aaron Nesmith had 22 factors and Jarace Walker added 15 towards the Cavaliers. Myles Turner completed with 13 factors, seven rebounds and 4 blocks.
–Discipline Stage Media
