Pacers rest 3 starters, cruise past Magic 101-86
By KYLE HIGHTOWER, Associated Press
Apr 16, 2014 8:33 PM CDT
Indiana Pacers' Evan Turner (12) takes a shot over Orlando Magic's E'Twaun Moore, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux)   (Associated Press)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Rasual Butler and Chris Copeland each scored 19 points as the Indiana Pacers rested their key players and cruised to a 101-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Eastern Conference's top seed ended the season winning three of four to shake off a nasty late-season slump. The Pacers will open the playoffs against eighth-seed Atlanta.

Indiana held out Paul George, Lance Stephenson and David West against the Magic. Also getting the night off was reserve Ian Mahinmi.

Maurice Harkless led the Magic with 14 points, and E'Twaun Moore added 13.

Orlando ended the season losing 16 of their last 20, with the fifth-worst record in franchise history.

The Magic trimmed what had been an 18-point, second-half deficit down to 12 in the fourth quarter before another late surge by Indiana helped secure the victory.

Indiana also knocked down 11 3-pointers, and racked up 40 points in the paint.

The Pacers didn't look short-handed as they went back and forth with the Magic in the first half, and took a six-point halftime lead.

Evan Turner had 11 first-half points, including one of the Indiana's six 3-pointers in the opening 24 minutes.

The Magic played 11 players in the half, with nine of them scoring. Orlando struggled from the field, though, shooting just 37 percent.

Notes: Orlando played without starters Jameer Nelson and Nik Vucevic. Nelson missed his third straight game with a strained left groin, and Vucevic was out for the seventh consecutive game with a sore left Achilles....The Magic were just 7-42 this season when their opponent scored 100 or more points.

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