INDIANAPOLIS – The Orlando Magic have elbowed their way back into playoff contention by playing some of the best defense in the NBA, getting more production from their reserves and riding the nightly consistency of all-star center Nikola Vucevic.
However, without the clutch, save-the-day fourth-quarter play of super sub Terrence Ross, the Magic almost certainly wouldn’t be anywhere near as close to the postseason as they are now.
Ross, Orlando’s top scorer all season in the fourth quarter all season, stunned the crowd at Bankerslife Fieldhouse by scoring 16 of his 23 points in the final period to lead the Magic to a stirring 117-112 defeat of an Indiana Pacers team that had haunted them for years prior to this season.