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    diamond level Diamond 900+ 99th
    platinum level Platinum 800-899 95th-98th
    gold level Gold 700-799 81st-94th
    silver level Silver 600-699 60th-80th
    bronze level Bronze 0-599 0-59th
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  • 4-14-0 11th Place
  • 21,314.80 Total Points (11th)
    • T.J. McConnell tallies 10 points, 12 assists
      T.J. McConnell played 23 minutes in Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks, scoring 10 points (5-of-9 FGs) with four rebounds and 12 assists.

      Advice: McConnell has played well in the first two games of this series, but that hasn’t been enough to convince Pacers coach Rick Carlisle to leave him on the court in crunch time. While the veteran point guard did the best job of making Jalen Brunson work for his scoring opportunities, starter Andrew Nembhard closed the game. While Nembhard (15 points, four assists, and one 3-pointer in 27 minutes) is more of a threat offensively, he has not been as effective defending Brunson in crunch time. While their places in the rotation may not change for Game 3 on Friday, don’t be surprised if McConnell’s minutes increase, as the Pacers can’t afford to fall into a 0-3 hole. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:27 pm
    • Tyrese Haliburton bounces back, scores 34 points
      Tyrese Haliburton (lower back spasms) finished Wednesday’s 130-121 loss to the Knicks with 34 points (11-of-19 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and seven 3-pointers in 35 minutes.

      Advice: After attempting just six shots in Monday’s Game 1 loss, Haliburton was the focus of many conversations. He was far more aggressive on offense in Game 2, attempting eight shots in the first quarter alone and finishing with a game-high 34 points. Haliburton can be even more aggressive on that end of the floor, which could happen in Game 3 on Friday. Despite the defeat, Wednesday’s performance was a step in the right direction for the All-Star point guard. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:16 pm
    • T.J. McConnell chips in with 18 off the bench
      T.J. McConnell shot 9-of-16 from the field in Monday’s 121-117 loss to the Knicks, scoring 18 points with one rebound, three assists, and three steals in 22 minutes.

      Advice: With Tyrese Haliburton struggling in Monday’s series opener, McConnell stepped up to lead a bench unit that combined to score 46 points. The veteran point guard scored 20 points in Indiana’s Game 6 win over Milwaukee, so his ability to punish the Knicks is unsurprising. Also reaching double figures off the bench was former Knick Obi Toppin, who tallied 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 19 minutes. Add Isaiah Jackson (8/5/1/0/3) and Ben Sheppard (8/2/2 with two 3-pointers), and the Pacers’ reserves played well enough to win Game 1. Unfortunately for them, the combination of New York’s Villanova trio and a few controversial calls was too much to overcome. Rotoworld Monday, 7:55 pm
    • Shines off bench in Game 1 loss
      McConnell finished with 18 points (9-16 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three assists, three steals and one rebound over 22 minutes in Monday's 121-117 loss to New York in Game 1 of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

      Advice: McConnell provided a much-needed spark off the Pacers bench with the below-average offensive showing by Indiana's starting guards, leading all bench players in scoring while adding a trio of steals and assists in a balanced showing on the second unit. McConnell has been playing some of his best basketball of the postseason in his last two outings, posting at least 18 points and three assists in two straight contests. Rotowire.com Monday, 7:29 pm
    • Awful shooting in playoff exit
      Suggs closed Sunday's 106-94 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 10 points (2-13 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 4-5 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one steal across 40 minutes.

      Advice: Suggs didn't have a good series against the Cavaliers and failed to operate as the third scoring option the Magic desperately needed at times. He reached the 15-point mark in just two of the seven games and averaged 14.7 points on a mere 40.2 percent mark from the floor. Despite the playoff woes, Suggs' role as a starter for the Magic next season shouldn't be in question. Rotowire.com Monday, 5:12 am
    • Jalen Suggs shoots poorly, scores 10 points Sunday
      Jalen Suggs finished Sunday’s Game 7 loss to Cleveland with 10 points (2-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 40 minutes.

      Advice: Despite opening the game making six of its first 11 3-pointers, the Magic received a harsh reminder of their most significant weakness in Game 7. Orlando would finish 10-of-31 from beyond the arc, with Suggs making two of his 10 attempts. The third-year guard reached double figures in six of the series’ seven games, but he shot below 40% from the field and 29% from three. While injury-related questions and limited production when healthy during his first two seasons negatively impacted Suggs’ ADP (141.9), he provided top 100 value in 8- and 9-cat formats. Whether or not this season gives his value a boost ahead of drafts in the fall depends on what changes Orlando makes to its perimeter rotation via the draft and free agency. Also, Suggs will be eligible for an extension this offseason. However, unlike Franz Wagner, the decision does not appear as clear-cut for the Magic front office, even with his improved 2023-24 campaign. Rotoworld Sunday, 1:43 pm
    • Won't start Game 7
      Isaac won't start Sunday's Game 7 against the Cavaliers, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.

      Advice: With Gary Harris (hamstring) returning to the starting lineup after missing Game 6, Isaac will revert to a reserve role. Across three appearances off the bench during the opening-round series, Isaac has averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.3 minutes per game. Rotowire.com Sunday, 9:39 am
    • Jonathan Isaac starts Game 6 win, fails to score
      Jonathan Isaac missed all five of his shot attempts in Friday’s Game 6 win over the Cavaliers, going scoreless with nine rebounds and one blocked shot in 23 minutes.

      Advice: Gary Harris missed Game 6 due to injury, which led to Isaac moving into the starting lineup. With this setup, Orlando became the first time in NBA playoff history to start four players listed at 6-foot-10 or taller (Isaac, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr.). While the former lottery pick failed to score, he did tie for the team lead in rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Carter, who also grabbed nine boards, accounted for 11 points, two assists, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer. Game 7 of this series will be played on Sunday in Cleveland. Rotoworld Friday, 7:25 pm
    • Jalen Suggs hits six 3-pointers, scores 22 points
      Jalen Suggs accumulated 22 points (7-of-16 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, and six 3-pointers in 35 minutes in Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland.

      Advice: After missing all five of his attempts in Game 5, Suggs was responsible for six of Orlando’s 11 made 3-pointers in Game 6. His performance was a welcome development for a team that finished the regular season as one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. In the series’ first five games, Suggs shot 6-of-25 from deep. While those numbers can lead some to dismiss Game 6 as a fluke, Suggs’ confidence to continue taking those shots was vital for him and the Magic. On Sunday, they’ll look to do something neither team has done in this series: win on the road. Rotoworld Friday, 7:21 pm