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Sunday, Mar. 25 12:00pm ET
Miller misses 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds left

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) –- Reggie Miller lined up for a potential game-winning shot, and Magic coach Doc Rivers experienced a flashback from his days in New York.

Darrell Armstrong
Darrell Armstrong, who scored 14 points, drives through the lane as Al Harrington defends.

The Magic were up by two points when Miller sidestepped a flying Tracy McGrady to hoist a 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds remaining. The shot missed, and the Magic escaped with an 84-82 victory.

"Oh, my," Rivers said. "Of all the guys to have a three. Being an ex-Knick, I was already ready to draw up a play for two. Flashbacks just start flying. Fortunately, maybe he can't make those shots against the Magic."

Indiana didn't need a 3-pointer to force overtime, but Miller said it was the right decision.

"It was a wide-open look that I missed," Miller said. "On the road, you want to go for the jugular. I had McGrady in the air for a step-back three. I got my feet set and I felt pretty good about it."

Added Indiana coach Isiah Thomas: "Sometimes you make them and sometimes you don't."

McGrady had 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals for Orlando. It was the 54th time he has scored 20 or more points and the 49th time he has led the Magic in scoring.

Darrell Armstrong and Mike Miller had 14 points each for Orlando and Michael Doleac added 10.

McGrady scored his first basket at 10:11 of the second quarter, but wasn't concerned about his slow start.

"I was just missing shots, trying to get my teammates involved early," McGrady said. "I can score when I want to. Scoring is nothing, but I try and get my teammates involved because I see teams are keying on me a lot, doing a lot of doubling."

The Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal made one of two free throws to cut Orlando's lead to 84-82 with 43.6 seconds remaining. McGrady then missed a 15-foot baseline jumper, but Miller followed that with his errant attempt.

McGrady grabbed the rebound and dribbled out the clock before tossing the ball into the stands as the Magic stopped a two-game losing slide.

Orlando and Indiana have split four games this season, with the home team winning each time.

"We didn't play well, but we played well enough to win," Armstrong said. "That's a sign of a good team, a sign of a team that could play through things in different situations."

O'Neal made 9-of-11 shots and was 8-for-14 from the line to lead Indiana with 26 points. He added 12 rebounds and blocked four shots. Jalen Rose had 13 points and Miller had 11 but they were a combined 8-of-34 from the field.

Orlando started the third quarter on a 20-4 run and led 68-58 heading into the fourth. McGrady had nine points and Michael Doleac added eight as the Magic made 10 of 18 field goals.

"We dug ourselves a hole in the third quarter," Thomas said. "(Orlando) came out with a lot of energy and we came back with the same starting unit that started the game. We could not match their energy. Consequently, they were able to get the big lead.

"When you don't make shots, no matter how much energy you have, it doesn't matter. For the most part of the game, particularly our two main guys, we did not make enough shots."

O'Neal left the game at 8:57 of the second quarter following a flagrant foul by McGrady. O'Neal was going up for a dunk but fell awkwardly and was helped off the court after staying on the ground a couple of minutes. He returned at 4:30 after a trainer examined his knee.

Game notes
Orlando's Andrew DeClercq missed his third consecutive game with a strained right calf. ... Indiana outscored Orlando 34-18 in the paint. ... Orlando was 5-for-17 on 3-point attempts. ... Each team had 43 rebounds. ... Orlando is 15-8 all-time against Indiana at home. ... O'Neal had his 35th double-double of the year.

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RECAPS
Toronto 102
Vancouver 92

Orlando 84
Indiana 82

Miami 88
San Antonio 83

Milwaukee 105
Atlanta 98

Boston 102
Chicago 98

Minnesota 105
New Jersey 91

LA Lakers 84
Sacramento 72


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