Magic, Pacers set for third meeting of young season

Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton will aim to ride the momentum of their best outings of the young season when the Indiana Pacers visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.Mathurin recorded career-high totals in points (38) and 3-pointers (seven), and Haliburton added a season-best 35 points and 14 assists in Indiana’s 132-121 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. The two combined to make 24 of 36 shots from the floor for a staggering 66.7 percent.”Tyrese was amazing in this game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him more determined in a regular-season game than this one.”Carlisle also had kind words for Mathurin.”Benn Mathurin was absolutely breathtaking. Efficient, tough physically.”The win was the third in the past four games for the Pacers, who will face Orlando for the third time already in the young season.Haliburton contributed 19 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in Indiana’s 119-115 setback to the Magic in Orlando on Oct. 28. He added 17 points in a 118-111 victory over the Magic in Indianapolis last Wednesday.Mathurin mustered just five points in 14 minutes in the first meeting before collecting 20 points and 11 rebounds in the rematch.Indiana likely will need more of the same from Mathurin and Haliburton given its injury woes, notably with respect to Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard.Nesmith will be sidelined until at least December with a sprained ankle, while Nembhard will miss two weeks due to a sprained knee.Coupled with the season-ending Achilles injuries to centers James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson, the Pacers find their backs against the wall in the early going of the season.