Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu celebrates in the closing seconds of the second half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. The Magic won 81-77.
Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson scored 17 points apiece to help sixth-seeded Orlando, playing without Dwight Howard, surprise the third-seeded Pacers 81-77 in Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series on Saturday night.
"Y'all look real stunned," Magic center Glen Davis, Howard's replacement, yelled at the crowd as he left the court. "Y'all look real stunned."
Howard, the Magic's leading scorer and the league's top rebounder, will miss the rest of the season after having back surgery. The Magic played defense Howard would have been proud of down the stretch, overcoming a seven-point deficit
Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, top, tries to tie up Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert as the go for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. ((AP Photo/Michael Conroy))
"We're all we got," said Davis, who had 16 points and 13 rebounds. "We're not trying to impress the doubters or make them believe. Only if we believe. When we believe, there's unlimited things that we can do. We've been through a lot mentally, physically. We've overcame and did a great job out there today."
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was fine with the chatter about his team's chances. Before the game, he joked that the best prediction he had heard was the Magic losing in five games. He quickly followed that by saying opinions don't matter.
His team backed him up.
Orlando took a 68-67 lead on a dunk by Earl Clark with 9:41 remaining, but the Pacers held the Magic
scoreless for nearly five minutes to take a 75-68 lead.A 3-pointer by Richardson cut Indiana's lead to 77-75. The Pacers missed 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions, and Danny Granger missed two free throws with 1:14 left. Richardson made another 3-pointer to give the Magic a 78-77 lead with 1:04 to play.
"With Dwight being out, the 3-point line is what we had to take care of, and we didn't," Pacers guard Paul George said.
Granger missed in close, and Orlando snagged
Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy calls a play in the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. ((AP Photo/Michael Conroy))
Darren Collison missed a shot from near the free throw line, and Orlando rebounded. Clark missed two free throws with 12.1 seconds remaining, giving Indiana one more chance. Indiana barely got the ball inbounds, then Granger traveled with 7.5 seconds remaining. J.J. Redick's free throw at the other end finished the scoring.
"This team is full of talented players who can play hard," Orlando forward Ryan Anderson said. "That's a great mix and we have each other's backs. Everybody says that, you know, the underdog thing and stuff. We don't believe it. We don't look into that at all. We know how we can play and we know
Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel questions a call in the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. ((AP Photo/Michael Conroy))
David West scored 19 points, Granger added 17 and Roy Hibbert had eight points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks for the Pacers.
"In one game, you give up what you played all season for," West said. "We talked about how good this team was, how dangerous they were in shooting the ball. They got us."
Indiana coach Frank Vogel expected Orlando's offensive style, which focuses on spacing the floor and shooting 3-pointers, to present a challenge. Orlando led the league in 3-pointers made and attempted during the regular season and was third in percentage (.375).
He was right.
Orlando fell behind by 10 in the first quarter before rallying in the second. A 3-pointer by Richardson gave Orlando a 43-40
Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15) shoots past Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert in the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. ((AP Photo/Michael Conroy))
Indiana opened the second half on an 8-2 run that included a 3-pointer and a fadeaway by Granger. George Hill was fouled on a 3-pointer, and he made all three free throws to finally give Indiana a 58-57 edge and bring the crowd back into the game.
Anderson's 3-pointer in the final minute of the quarter, his first of the game, gave the Magic a 64-63 lead at the end of period. Indiana held Orlando to 13 points on 6-for-19 shooting in the period, but couldn't
Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, left, blocks the shot ove Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu in the first half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 28, 2012. ((AP Photo/Michael Conroy))
"We definitely let this one get away," George said. "We went through a stretch of a lot of in and out shots."
Game 2 will be Monday night in Indianapolis.
"It is huge, to go out there and get Game 1 in their place," Davis said. "Now their back's against the wall and they've got to win Game 2. We're trying to get every game we can. We're not trying to slow down. We're not trying to be complacent."
Indiana doesn't plan to fall behind 2-0.
"We need to be sharper on reads offensively and execute in crunch time," Vogel said. "I have every bit of confidence we will bounce back."
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Notes: Indiana G Leandro Barbosa, who was nursing a sprained left ankle, finished with three points in 20 minutes. ... Orlando F Hedo Turkoglu wore a mask during the game. ... Vogel was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for April. ... Collison, who recently lost his starting job, played most of the fourth quarter. ... Magic assistant Patrick Ewing had a walking boot on his left foot because of an infection.
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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap
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