Pacers, Bender Feel at Home

Home suddenly got a lot sweeter for the Indiana Pacers. So did the play of second-year forward Jonathan Bender.

Bender had career highs of 20 points and four blocked shots in the Pacers’ 103-93 victory over the Orlando Magic at Indianapolis.

“I felt relaxed a lot. I felt like I was playing on a playground,” said Bender, who came in with a 3.0 average for the season.

Jalen Rose scored 31 points and Reggie Miller had 22 as the Pacers ended a record three-game losing streak in their two-year-old Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana took control in the third quarter, built its lead to 15 points and held off a late rally with two free throws apiece by Rose and Travis Best in the closing seconds.

Tracy McGrady had a career-high 43 points for the Magic, but little support.