Magic drop 5th straight vs. Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — Life without Paolo Banchero on the court hasn’t been easy for the Orlando Magic, to say the least.

Orlando, who’s without its first-time NBA All-Star indefinitely due to a torn right abdominal muscle, dropped its fifth straight contest Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers despite a game-high 28 points from Franz Wagner.

Led by Bennedict Mathurin’s 20 points, Indiana had six different scorers finish with 15 or more during its 118-111 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse over the Magic, who went winless on its five-game road trip.

Orlando trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half but it used an 18-2 to eventually take the lead in the second quarter. Back and forth the rest of the night, Indiana's (4-4) All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton (17) put his team ahead by two possessions with a late 3-pointer.

The Magic (3-6) are hoping to get back on track when they return to Kia Center on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Starting five

Mosley stuck with the same first five on the floor as Monday’s game at Oklahoma City — Jalen Suggs (15 points), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva and Goga Bitadze — against the Pacers.

It was perhaps Caldwell-Pope’s best game so far in a Magic uniform. He attacked the rim and found success from 3 to have 13 by the half. It was the most he’s scored since his arrival to Orlando but also all he had Wednesday.

His triple from the left wing with 1:48 left in the second quarter gave Orlando its first lead of the night.

The ball moved well amongst the starters and Franz Wagner leaned on his craftiness to score around the rim where majority of his points were scored. He had 21 in the first half but only had seven the rest of the way.

Facing his former team where he began his career, Bitadze dunked emphatically in the first quarter after grabbing an offensive rebound. He racked up 12 boards with 10 points, but had four fouls by the fourth quarter.

Second unit

The first five off the bench featured regulars Anthony Black, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Jonathan Isaac and Moe Wagner.

Black (12 points) portrayed his ability as a playmaker with six assists when he helped initiate the offense at times. He drove to the rim with confidence, finishing through contact early in the fourth.

Harris snapped a five-game streak without a made 3-pointer since Orlando’s home-opener Oct. 25 when he sunk his first long-range bucket in the second quarter Wednesday.

Isaac made his presence felt on both ends with an efficient nine points (4-of-4 FG), six rebounds and a block.

Still Indiana’s bench outscored Orlando’s narrowly 42-40.

Rookie watch

Da Silva made his third straight start for Orlando and continued to seem comfortable on the court alongside the first group.

The No. 18 draft pick found his spots when he could with five points and three assists in 23 minutes.