Magic maul Pacers behind Mickael Pietrus’ big night

Buoyed by the return of Mickael Peitrus, the Orlando Magic shot out to a big first quarter lead and were never really threatened as they routed the Indiana Pacers 135-111 at the Amway Arena on Tuesday night.  The victory improved the Magic’s record to a glossy 34-10 on the year, and 17-4 at home. 

Pietrus had missed the previous twelve games due to a broken wrist, but there wasn’t any apparent “ring rust” when he entered the game late in the first quarter.  He finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, part of a balanced Orlando attack that saw eight players score in double figures.  Rashard Lewis added 24 points, while Dwight Howard scored 20 and pulled down 10 boards.  T.J. Ford led the Pacers with 23 points and five other Indiana players contributed double figures.  Unfortunately for Indiana, that was a function of the game being essentially over by the end of the first quarter which allowed their reserves to play a lot minutes in “garbage time”.

After the game, the Pacers’ Danny Granger maintained that the Magic—and not Boston are Cleveland—were the true ‘beast of the East’:

"They are the best team in the East. Two words -- Dwight Howard -- explain it. He is the most dominant player since Shaquille O’Neal -- hands down."

Pacers’ coach Jim O’Brien concurred:

"They've got the whole package. They have Howard in the middle and they are so long at the 3-point line."

While many in the press room were surprised that Mickael Peitrus got back into the flow of things so quickly and with such ease, Peitrus himself wasn’t:

"I still have my shot. That didn't go anywhere. I didn't leave it at home. I came back aggressive and with plenty of energy. I was rested and ready to come back."

Orlando now faces a big challenge on Thursday as they host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.  They’ll then head up north for an early afternoon tip with Toronto on Sunday before returning home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.   Indiana plays their next four games at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, starting with a visit from Milwaukee on Wednesday night and games against Miami and New York on Friday and Saturday.