Pacers Fall to Magic but Lock Up 4th Seed in Eastern Conference

The Indiana Pacers wrapped up their final home game of the regular season with a 129-115 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday night—a game that featured second-string lineups as both teams opted to rest their starters ahead of postseason play.

With Tyrese Haliburton and the core rotation sitting, Indiana’s younger players took center stage at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Bennedict Mathurin made the most of his minutes, leading the Pacers with 20 points and eight rebounds. Rookie forward Johnny Furphy added 17 points, and the Pacers got double-figure contributions from eight different players.

Orlando, also resting its starting unit after clinching a play-in spot, was led by Trevelin Queen, who poured in a career-high 25 points on a sizzling night from beyond the arc.

Despite the loss, the Pacers’ playoff future is locked in. At 47-34, Indiana secures the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and will open a first-round playoff series against the fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks—a rematch from last year’s playoff showdown that saw Indiana pull the upset.

While Friday’s performance wasn’t reflective of the Pacers’ full strength, it did provide valuable experience for the bench and a final tune-up before playoff intensity begins. The regular season concludes Sunday with a visit to Cleveland.