Hedo Leads Orlando To The Playoffs Break Pacers Stride 122-111

Hedo Turkoglu scored a game high 27 points, Dwight Howard recorded a double-double, and the Orlando Magic shot a molten hot 63.6% (49-77) from the floor for the game and an equally impressive 60% (12-20) from outside the arc, as they dominated the Indiana Pacers 122-111 Saturday night. They also gave the crowd at Orlando’s Amway Arena another reason to cheer, the win made them the third team this season to lock down a play off spot. Even if Orlando were to end up losing every game for the rest of the campaign they are now guaranteed of being in the post season. Boston, and Detroit were the first two teams to clinch post season slots.

Orlando just dominated this game for the first three quarters. The Magic held a 28-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Although the Pacers scored 35 points in the second quarter, they were only able to knock 2 points off the Magic lead as it was a 61-53 game at the half. Indiana never got any closer than 7 points during the third quarter as it looked like Orlando was about to run away and hid as they held a 91-80 advantage as the two sides went into the final period. But as in most NBA games Indiana made their run in the fourth quarter. The Pacers started the period on an 11-2 run, and it was suddenly just a 2 point contest with Orlando clinging to a 93-91 lead with 9:10 left in the period. But at that point it looked like Indiana hit the wall as the Magic went on an 8-2 run to make it a 101-93 game after Rashard Lewis hit a bucket, was fouled on the play, and hit the shot at the line with 7:00 left. The Pacers would cut the lead down to 4 points at 106-102 as Danny Granger hit an outside shot but they quickly fell behind again as Orlando held on for the lead.

Hedo scored 27 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, in the victory for Orlando. Rashard Lewis scored 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, Maurice Evans scored 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal. Dwight Howard scored 18 points, 12 boards, 3 blocks 1 assist, Keith Bogans scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal.

Danny Granger led Indiana as he scored 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, 1 block. Troy Murphy scored 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, Mike Dunleavy scored 16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds. Marquis Daniels came off the bench and scored 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Kareem Rush also came off of the pine and scored 12 points 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds. Flip Murray scored 11 points, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 rebound. Orlando is now 44-24 Indiana is 25-41.