Carter scores 21; leads Magic past Pacers 118-98 for fifth straight win

Carter leads Magic past Pacers 118-98

INDIANAPOLIS — Vince Carter scored 21 points to help the Orlando Magic beat the Indiana Pacers 118-98 on Monday night for their fifth straight win.

Jameer Nelson had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Rashard Lewis scored 14 points for the Magic. Matt Barnes had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Dwight Howard added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.

A.J. Price scored 19 points and Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy added 18 for the Pacers in their home finale. Indiana had won four straight and 10 of 12 overall.

Orlando outscored Indiana 32-16 at the free throw line and outrebounded the Pacers 67-44.

Orlando has the league’s second-best record, and would have homecourt in the Finals against any Western Conference team with a victory Wednesday against Philadelphia.

Orlando led 42-18 at the end of the first quarter. It was the most points Indiana has allowed in any quarter this season. The Magic shot 56.5 percent in the period.

Indiana rallied in the second quarter and cut its deficit to nine before Nelson hit a 3-pointer and a free throw line jumper in the final minute of the half to give Orlando a 65-51 lead at the break.

The Magic rebuilt their lead in the third quarter by shutting the Pacers down. Indiana shot 8 for 23 in the quarter, and Orlando led 90-70 at the end of the period. Indiana’s Roy Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 center, provided a highlight with a 3-pointer out of the right corner as time expired in the quarter.

Orlando continued to roll in the fourth quarter. Hibbert hit another 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to give the few remaining Pacers fans something to cheer about.

NOTES: Reb Porter is retiring after 34 years as Pacers public address announcer. … Pacers assistant coach Dick Harter also will retire at the end of this season. … Pacers F Troy Murphy was issued a technical foul in the first quarter for arguing that he didn’t make contact when called for fouling Barnes. Granger also got a technical at the end of the quarter. … Carter moved into 42nd place on the NBA scoring list, surpassing Terry Cummings.