Orlando Shows Pacers Some Magic

April 28, 1999 / 12:16 AM EDT / CBS/AP

For at least one night, the slumping Orlando Magic delivered in the clutch.

Darrell Armstrong's open 17-footer with 1.6 seconds to play Tuesday night gave Orlando an 88-87 victory over Indiana, snapping the Magic's longest losing streak of the season at five games.

"I can't remember hitting a bigger shot," Armstrong said of his game-winner over Travis Best. "It looked like Travis gambled and reached for the ball. I was fortunate to get open. It felt good all the way."

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Indiana had one last shot at victory and got the ball to Best after consecutive timeouts, but his open shot from the corner bounced off the rim.

"This was the most important win of the season for us," Armstrong said. "We've been losing at home, on the road. ... This keeps us in the thick of it."

The Magic did it with defense, holding the Pacers scoreless over the final 2:04 after Reggie Miller's 3-pointer gave Indiana an 87-84 lead. Horace Grant's layup cut it to 87-86 with 1:44 to go.

Indiana, which had its lead in the Central Division fall to one-half game over Atlanta, missed its final three shots from the field and had a 24-second violation on another possession with 7.2 seconds to go.

Orlando gained a 2-1 advantage in the season series, stayed within two games of Miami for the Atlantic Division lead and moved one-half game ahead of Indiana in the Eastern Conference standings.

Nick Anderson led Orlando with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Penny Hardaway added 17 points and Armstrong 15.

"I know I should have fouled him because we had a foul to give. We wanted to let a little time run off the clock, but I really felt he was about to pass the ball to someone coming off a screen behind me. The next thing I knew, he made a move and got the shot," Best said.

Orlando had lost seven of its last eight gmes.

"Without a doubt, this game was huge for us," Hardaway said.

Miller scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter when the Pacers took their biggest lead, 78-73, while holding Orlando scoreless for nearly five minutes. Miller was only 6-of-16 from the field and the Pacers shot only 39.5 percent.

There were 16 ties and 10 lead changes before Miller's 3-pointer with 2:04 left put Indiana ahead.

"We had a five-point lead and we couldn't stop them," Indiana coach Larry Bird said. "We had a foul to give, but he made a move on Travis and Travis was afraid he was going to pull up. ... In a situation like that you've got to make sure you grab the guy before he shoots."

Orlando had missed several other chances to gain the lead in the final seconds. With 38 seconds left the Magic appeared to turn the ball over with Hardaway going out of bounds. However, the officials ruled he had called a timeout before landing.

Hardaway then threw up an airball and Indiana gained possession with 31 seconds to play. Indiana had a foul to give in the final minute, but never used it.

Notes: Orlando's Isaac Austin has made only two 3-pointers all season, both at Market Square Arena. ... Armstrong made only his 12th start in 47 games. ... The Pacers are 6-8 in games decided by three or less points, while Orlando is 6-2 in games decided by three or less points. ... The Pacers had their eighth consecutive sellout and 14th of the season. ... The Pacers have lost six times by one point. The Pacers are 1-6 in games decided by one point. ... Orlando tied its season-low with seven offensive rebounds. ... Orlando never shot a free throw in the second half after making all six of its attempts in the first half. The six free throws and six attempts are the fewest against Indiana this season.