Indiana Pacers Team Report - February 22

(Basketball News) - A pair of squads looking to make a move in the Eastern Conference standings down the stretch go head-to-head tonight, when the Orlando Magic host the Indiana Pacers at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Orlando (28-24) currently holds down the sixth slot, while Indiana (25-26) is ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana has won three of its last four, including a 95-87 victory over Portland at Conseco Fieldhouse last Wednesday. The retiring Reggie Miller poured in 36 points to lead the Pacers to the victory. Miller, who entered the game averaging just 11.6 points per contest, was 10- of-17 from the field.

Fred Jones and Jeff Foster added 14 points apiece in the win, Indiana’s fifth in seven games, and Jermaine O’Neal scored 10. Foster added 17 rebounds.

Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley (bruised left foot) missed his eighth straight game. Tinsley is expected to be back in the lineup tonight.

Indiana shot just 36 percent from the field in the contest, including 8-of-30 (.267) from beyond the three-point arc. The Pacers hit 23-of-26 (.885) from the free throw line.

The Pacers, who have lost three of their last four road games, are 11-14 in foreign buildings this season.

Orlando has won the first two meetings between these teams this season, both in Indiana. The Magic have averaged just a two-point victory in the pair of wins. Orlando has won four of the last seven meetings overall.

Indiana has four games in the next five days, including home tilts against Miami (Wednesday) and Cleveland (Friday). The Pacers will finish up their week’s slate against New York at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.