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Magic down Pacers to cap regular season

Apr 14, 2011 - 6:33 AM Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard scored 13 points with 13 rebounds as the Orlando Magic capped their regular season schedule with a 92-74 drubbing of the Indiana Pacers at Amway Arena.

Howard recorded his double-double while playing just over 26 minutes in the win, Orlando's fourth in five games. Hedo Turkoglu scored 13 while Ryan Anderson posted 14 points and seven boards in a reserve role.

The Magic capped their regular season with a 52-30 record and will enter the playoffs with the Eastern Conference's fourth-seed.

"You tend to have room to make mistakes in the regular season," said Howard. "But in the playoffs, if you make a mistake it can cost you a game which can then cost you a series."

Orlando will face the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs for the third time in club history starting on Saturday in Orlando. The Magic handled the Hawks in the conference semifinals last season, sweeping the series 4-0. Orlando continued its success in 2010-11, winning 50- plus games for the fourth straight season.

Brandon Rush and Mike Dunleavy both scored 16 points in reserve roles for the Pacers, who dropped their final two games of the regular season. Indiana will head into the playoffs finishing the season with a 37-45 record.

"It's a tall task but our guys are playing their best basketball of the season right now," said Indiana head coach Frank Vogel. "We look forward to the task that we have ahead of us."

The Pacers will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, earning the Eastern Conference's eighth-seed and garnering the dubious honor of taking on one of the hottest teams, the Chicago Bulls beginning on Saturday in the Windy City. The only time these teams have met in the playoffs was in the Eastern Conference finals in 1997-98, as the Bulls topped the Pacers 4-3, moving on to win their final NBA Championship in the Michael Jordan-era and their sixth in eight years.

Orlando took the lead from the opening tip. Anderson scored 11 of his points on 4-of-4 from the field as the Magic held a 28-14 lead after one. Orlando held the Pacers to only 15 points in the second, taking a 53-29 lead into the break.

Dunleavy scored 13 in the third quarter as the Pacers cut their deficit to 71-55 entering the fourth. However, the Orlando lead was too much to overcome as its lead never fell below 13 throughout the duration of the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Brandon Bass posted 12 points and six boards for the victors...Tyler Hansbrough scored nine with six caroms for Indiana, which saw Dahntay Jones, Josh McRoberts and A.J. Price all donate seven points in the loss.