Powered by a monstrous second quarter and 31 points from Desmond Bane, the Orlando Magic handed the visiting Indiana Pacers a record-tying 12th straight loss with a 135-127 win on Sunday afternoon.
Indiana matched three previous 12-game losing streaks in franchise annals – the last one during the 1988-89 season. The Pacers can break the dubious record on Tuesday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Paolo Banchero scored 28 points and Anthony Black added 27 for the Magic, who have alternated wins and losses in their last 10 games. Orlando hit 26 of 34 free-throw attempts while Indiana converted 16 of 21.
Pascal Siakam posted a game-high 34 points for the Pacers and Aaron Nesmith had 25.
Orlando trailed 41-29 one minute into the second quarter before all the momentum turned the Magic’s way. Bane kickstarted a 17-0 Orlando run with an elbow jumper and two free throws. Tyus Jones hit a 3-pointer to put the Magic ahead 43-41 and Bane closed the run with a 34-foot 3-pointer.
Orlando, which outscored Indiana 41-22 in the second, pushed the lead to as much as 13 and led 69-58 at halftime.
Indiana made its first nine shots in the second half — most of them layups — and pulled within 95-92 on Siakam’s 3-pointer with 3:59 left in the third. Siakam scored 20 points in the quarter, but Orlando got a late 3-point play from Bane and led 107-100 after three.
The Pacers reclaimed a brief 116-115 lead on a pair of Nembhard free throws with 7:29 left, but Orlando answered with a 9-0 run that included threes by Banchero and Black.
Indiana closed to 130-127, but Tristan Da Silva hit a three from the wing with 1:10 left to seal it. Indiana missed 3-point tries on its last three possessions.
The first quarter was all Pacers. Indiana got good production from Nesmith, who had a pair of threes in the first four minutes, to take a 13-5 lead.
Jay Huff flung a reverse layup with both hands with 1.5 seconds left in the first quarter and got a lucky bounce as Indiana led 36-28 after one.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle remains at 999 NBA victories in his career. The Pacers used their 20th different starting lineup Sunday, the most of any NBA team.
–Field Level Media
