Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic Preview – October 28, 2024

The Indiana Pacers visit the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on Monday night in an early-season showdown between two teams hoping to make deep playoff runs. Both teams enter this matchup with something to prove after recent losses, aiming to bounce back and find consistency in the young season.
Indiana Pacers Overview
The Indiana Pacers have started the season with a 1-2 record, struggling with turnovers and rebounding issues. Their most recent loss, a 118-114 overtime defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers, exposed some weaknesses. Poor free-throw shooting, with the team going 23-of-34 from the line, and 20 turnovers cost Indiana a chance to secure the win.
Tyrese Haliburton, a key playmaker for Indiana, hasn’t found his rhythm yet, managing only two assists in the loss to Philadelphia. The Pacers, known for leading the league in assists last season, will need Haliburton to rediscover his form to set the pace against Orlando. Defensively, Indiana must improve its rebounding after allowing 20 offensive boards against the 76ers.
With two consecutive losses, Indiana is under pressure to tighten up on both ends of the court. Rick Carlisle’s squad will look to clean up the sloppy play and find more efficient ways to generate offense. Tyrese Haliburton will need a bounce-back game for Indiana to compete against the Magic.
Orlando Magic Overview
The Orlando Magic enter the matchup with a 2-1 record, having opened the season with two dominant wins before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies 124-111. Franz Wagner led the Magic in that game with 23 points, while Jalen Suggs added 21. However, the Magic struggled with turnovers, giving away 19 possessions, which led to 30 points for the Grizzlies.
Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s star forward, started the season strong but had a quieter game against Memphis. He finished with 16 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field. Banchero will be key to Orlando’s success as they look to regain momentum at home. Coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the need to turn defensive stops into fastbreak opportunities, as the team thrives when playing in transition.
The Magic also need to reduce turnovers to control the tempo. Their ability to force turnovers from opponents has been a strength, but their own ball-handling must improve. Paolo Banchero will be looking for a bounce-back performance to keep Orlando on track.
Prediction and Pick
The Magic have the edge coming into this game, thanks to their balanced offense and home-court advantage. Orlando’s ability to force turnovers and convert them into points makes them a tough matchup for an Indiana team that has struggled with ball security. If Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner play to their potential, the Magic should have the firepower to outlast the Pacers.
Meanwhile, the Pacers need a more composed performance from Haliburton to stay competitive. Indiana will also have to improve its rebounding to prevent the Magic from capitalizing on second-chance points. The Pacers’ fast pace can make them dangerous, but they will need to limit mistakes to stand a chance against Orlando.
- Pick: Orlando Magic -6.5
- Prediction: Orlando 116, Indiana 103