Banchero, Harris lead Magic to 126-120 win over Pacers

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 23 points and Garry Harris made allsix of his 3-point shots and added 22 points as the Orlando Magicheld off a late rally to beat the Indiana Pacers 126-120 onWednesday night.

BennedictMathurin came off the Pacers’ bench to score 26 points for thesecond straight game, and Myles Turner added 22 points and 13rebounds for Indiana, which was coming off a 116-110 win overChicago a night earlier. Buddy Hield hit his first five 3-pointshots and finished with 21 points.

WendellCarter Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic. Orlandomade 15 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and shot 56% overall.

Harris, whomade 8 of 9 shots, was the only one of 11 Magic players not to havean assist.

“My teammatesdid a good job of finding me,” he said. “When the ball moves likeit did — I mean, we had a season high in assists (34) today. Whenthe ball is popping, you’ve got to step it up and shoot the ballwith confidence.

“(My shots)definitely came in the rhythm of the game. We did a great job ofmoving the ball.”

The Pacersfell behind 11-0 and never caught up, losing for the eighth time innine games since NBA assist leader Tyrese Haliburton went out witha sprained left knee and sprained left elbow.

Bancheroscored 13 points in the Magic’s 46-point first quarter in whichthey shot 64% and built a 17-point lead.

“Lousy firstquarter. We’ve got to get off to better starts,” Pacers coach RickCarlisle said. “They hit us with a lot of shots, drives to thebasket, and we were on our heels. The second night of a back toback is not an excuse because we’ve been good all year in thosesituations.”

Hield hitthree 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Pacers got backwithin two points before trailing 73-68 at halftime.

Orlandoregained a double-digit lead just before the third-quarter buzzeron Franz Wagner’s layup after a length-of-court pass from JalenSuggs.

The Magicwent back up by 17 points early in the fourth quarter, beforeIndiana closed within four in the final minute.

It was theninth win for the Magic in their last 12 home games.

“Defense isgoing to have to be our identity for us to get into the playoffs.That’s kind of our push right now, that’s what everybody’s mind setis,” Carter said. “Defending home court is going to be huge forus.”

TIP-INS

Pacers: Hieldfinished with six 3s and raised his NBA-leading total to 191. ...Haliburton missed his eighth straight game, but might play Fridaynight. ... G Andrew Nembhard missed a second game due toillness.

Magic: FJonathan Isaac, playing in his second game since missingtwo-and-a-half seasons with a torn left ACL, had five points andtwo assists in eight minutes. ... Franz Wagner was the only starterwho also started the last game against Indiana, on Dec. 16.

HIGHPRAISE FOR THE ROOKIE

Nine-yearveteran Harris on Banchero: “I’ve never seen anybody come into theleague like he’s come into the league, just how locked-in, focused,how mature he is. I’ve never seen a rookie like him. It’s been funto share the court with him.”

Carter on thesame subject: “He just gets the game of basketball. ... We’re atour best when he’s aggressive, and he understands that. Heunderstands that there’s a lot of weight on him as the No. 1 pick,but he’s so calm and collected out there.”