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INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) – The Orlando Magic rebounded from a disappointing loss to Detroit Monday to beat Indiana 111-96 Wednesday, handing the Pacers a season-worst sixth successive loss.
Dwight Howard recorded 19 points and 16 rebounds to help the Magic (30-16) erase the memory of Monday's 103-96 loss to the struggling Detroit Pistons.
"We had to play inside out, and that's when we have a lot of success," Howard told reporters after his teammates supported him with outside shooting.
Jason Richardson added 19 points and nine rebounds as Orlando moved ahead of Atlanta (29-17), who lost 98-90 to the Milwaukee Bucks, for sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando outscored the Pacers 38-27 in the second quarter to seize control, stretched their lead to 21 in the third and were never threatened after that.
Danny Granger scored a game-high 27 points for Indiana (16-26) despite a poor shooting night. He made just 6 of 19 shots -- he had gone 2-for-10 in his last game against Denver -- but was 12-for-13 at the free throw line.
"They made 16 (threes). It's hard to win when a team shoots (16 of 34) from the three-point line," Granger said. "It's pretty frustrating. We're sliding right now and if we don't stop it soon we'll be out of the playoff mix."
The Pacers are now 10 games below .500 having lost 16 of their past 21 games.
Orlando had earlier announced they had waived reserve point guard Jason Williams.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Dwight Howard recorded 19 points and 16 rebounds to help the Magic (30-16) erase the memory of Monday's 103-96 loss to the struggling Detroit Pistons.
"We had to play inside out, and that's when we have a lot of success," Howard told reporters after his teammates supported him with outside shooting.
Jason Richardson added 19 points and nine rebounds as Orlando moved ahead of Atlanta (29-17), who lost 98-90 to the Milwaukee Bucks, for sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando outscored the Pacers 38-27 in the second quarter to seize control, stretched their lead to 21 in the third and were never threatened after that.
Danny Granger scored a game-high 27 points for Indiana (16-26) despite a poor shooting night. He made just 6 of 19 shots -- he had gone 2-for-10 in his last game against Denver -- but was 12-for-13 at the free throw line.
"They made 16 (threes). It's hard to win when a team shoots (16 of 34) from the three-point line," Granger said. "It's pretty frustrating. We're sliding right now and if we don't stop it soon we'll be out of the playoff mix."
The Pacers are now 10 games below .500 having lost 16 of their past 21 games.
Orlando had earlier announced they had waived reserve point guard Jason Williams.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)