Gordon powers Magic to 121-116 win over Pacers
By CHRIS GOFF
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Aaron Gordon had 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists Saturday night, and the Orlando Magic racked up a season-high 37 assists in a 121-116 win over the Indiana Pacers to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Coming off a blowout loss at Detroit that snapped a six-game win streak, Orlando got back on track with a relentless attack. The Magic shot 51 percent from the field and finished with only seven turnovers.
Orlando remained a half-game behind Miami for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot after the Heat beat the New York Knicks.
Darren Collison posted 24 points and nine assists for the Pacers, who shot 53 percent from the field but committed 15 turnovers in losing to the Magic for the third time this season.
Gordon connected on a 3-pointer with 1:53 left that provided a 115-106 edge. He had help from Nikola Vucevic, who scored 19 points, and former Indiana guard D.J. Augustin, whose twisting layup restored a seven-point edge with 29 seconds to play.
Augustin finished with 11 points and 10 assists. Terrence Ross added 16 off the bench for Orlando, which trailed 57-56 at halftime and 92-90 after three quarters.
Indiana, at 45-32, remained tied for fourth place with Boston, which fell 110-96 at Brooklyn. The Pacers host the Celtics on Friday.
TIP-INS
Magic: In their first year under coach Steve Clifford, the Magic's improved defense entered Saturday eighth in the league in points allowed per possession. They had finished 20th and 24th respectively the past two seasons under former Indiana coach Frank Vogel. ... Orlando shot 14 of 23 in the first quarter and led 32-28 at its conclusion.
Pacers: Indiana dropped both home games against Orlando, which also won 117-112 on March 2. That game featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes. There were nine ties and 18 lead changes Saturday. ... Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 22 points. Myles Turner had 16 points and 12 rebounds. ... Without All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, out for the season with a right knee injury, Indiana is 5-12 in its past 17 games.
UP NEXT
Magic: Play at Toronto on Monday night.
Pacers: Host Detroit on Monday night.