INDIANAPOLIS – When your star player is unavailable night after night, the margins for error are slim. For the Orlando Magic, who were without All-Star Paolo Banchero for the fourth straight game, this five-game road trip taught that hard lesson many times over.

The host Indiana Pacers blew a 12-point lead Wednesday night after shooting 14 of 21 from the field in the first quarter. The lead then grew to 18 points in the second quarter. In previous stops on this road trip, when the Magic dug early holes for themselves due to poor shooting, poor defense or some combination of the two, the results were a foregone conclusion.

The Magic began to tell a different story Wednesday night, stringing together a 26-7 run from the 9:54 mark to the 1:48 mark and taking their first lead of the night.

In the second half, the rivals traded buckets until the fourth quarter. Orlando twice cut 11-point deficits to two points, but Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton’s 3-pointer with 33 seconds left ended the drama. Pacers 118, Magic 111.

Orlando is now 3-6 overall; 0-4 without Banchero, who is expected to miss at least another month.

“We always talk about the next man up mentality and we had a lot of guys step up and play hard, play the right way,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game. “We’re going to go (over) the margins, but you can’t start the game 38-26 in the first quarter. It’s really important to get off to a good start, especially on the road.”

In the last four games without Banchero, Orlando was a combined minus-51 in the first quarter. For as many rallies as the Magic can make, backcourt play without a top scorer is not a formula for success.

“Just focusing on getting locked out on defense,” guard Anthony Black said. “We did a good job of responding to our first quarters that we gave up, but I think a couple of these games, if we have a better first quarter defensively, we’re in the game (and) put ourselves in position to beat short.”

Franz Wagner led all scorers with 28 points. Five other Magic players reached double figures: Jalen Suggs (15), Moe Wagner (14), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (13), Anthony Black (12) and Goga Bitadze (10).

Bennedict Mathurin’s 20 points led Indiana and five other Pacers joined him in double figures: Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton and Jarace Walker, all with 17, and TJ McConnell with 15.

Rookie swingman Tristan da Silva (5 points) started in place of Paolo Banchero for the third straight time. Bitadze made his second straight start for Wendell Carter Jr., who left the contest with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Bitadze added 12 rebounds to his 10 points.

Points in the paint greatly favored the Magic, 70-42, but inconsistent outside scoring was again a difference maker. For the third straight game, Orlando made eight or fewer three-pointers. Through nine games, the Magic have the worst 3-point percentage (30.3) in the NBA.

The Magic have endured one of the toughest parts of their early schedule. After nine days in five cities, I’m ready to cook at home. Ask Franz if he is ready to return to Orlando.

“Yes, a lot,” Wagner said.

The Magic begin a five-game homestand by hosting the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on November 8 inside the Kia Center.

Follow ‘Orlando Magic on SIon Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also bookmark us home page so you never miss a story.