Pascal Siakam scored 37 points as the Indiana Pacers ended a franchise-record 16-game losing streak with a 128-126 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Monday.
Jarace Walker chimed in with 20 points, Aaron Nesmith had 19 — all in the second half — including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and Andrew Nembhard paired 13 points with 14 assists.
It was the first win for Indiana (16-56) since Feb. 11, before the All-Star break.
Paolo Banchero poured in 39 for the Magic (38-33), who suffered their fifth straight defeat. Tristan da Silva contributed 21 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. and Desmond Bane added 17 apiece.
Banchero hit a pair of free throws with 28.9 seconds remaining to cap a 13-3 surge which had trimmed Orlando’s deficit from 125-113 to 128-126.
Siakam then missed a turnaround jumper with 8.4 ticks remaining, the scrap for the rebound resulting in a Banchero-Nesmith jump ball.
Banchero won the tap and the Magic called timeout with five seconds left.
Carter inbounded to Banchero, whose drive in heavy traffic was blocked by Siakam.
After hitting 4 of 16 from long range in the first half, the Pacers went 12 of 19 after the break.
Indiana rode a 21-11 start to a 34-24 lead after the first quarter.
Orlando scored the first nine points of the second period to close the gap to 34-33, then eased its way into front position. Banchero led the fightback with 17 points for the period, giving him 22 at the half.
He blew past Siakam and scored a tough layup over Micah Potter at the halftime buzzer to give Orlando a 64-59 lead.
Carter’s dunk to start the third pushed the Magic’s buffer to 66-59, before Indiana ripped back control with a 15-3 spree.
Indiana hit 9 of 13 from 3-point range for the quarter, with Nesmith the chief architect. He poured in 16 points in the third frame, including 4 of 4 from downtown, as Indiana dominated the quarter 44-31 to hold a 103-95 edge with one quarter to play.
–Field Level Media
