Guide, odds, predictions and more

Looking to solidify their shaky start to the 2024-25 season, the Indiana Pacers travel to Orlando with a doubleheader to face the Eastern Conference other up-and-coming young playoff franchise, the 2-1 Magic, on Monday night.

The action begins at 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET at the Kia Center. Local Indiana fans can tune in via FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, while national (and international) fans can catch the fun on League Pass or fuboTV.

The Magic are listed as a -5.5-point favorite by sportsbook The Action Network. Magic All-Star power forward Paolo Banchero had the highest over/under odds on the night, with a total of around 24 points. Former two-time All-Star Pacers power forward Pascal Siakam is considered Indiana's most likely squad to score the most balls on Monday night, with 18.5 points set as the high/low limit.

The Pacers are healthier and more rested. The Magic are playing the second night of a back-to-back series of games after losing their first contest of the year to the Memphis Grizzlies, 124-111, on Sunday night. Look for Indiana to secure a .500 record today, going 115-110. Siakam, a two-time All-Defensive Teamer, should be able to handle Banchero and/or Magic small forward Franz Wagner if needed. Pacers center Myles Turner, a rare 3-and-D player at his position, will easily beat Orlando's starting five Wendell Carter Jr. All-NBA Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton, although perhaps a little weaker than his All-NBA -Run in a year Coming off a lingering injury (more on that later), he should be able to wipe out Jalen Suggs, the Magic's starting All-Defensive team point guard, with a versatile offensive game.

As mentioned, Tyrese Haliburton hasn't looked quite the same since suffering a left hamstring injury in the 2023-24 playoffs. The illness plagued him throughout Team USA's run to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the 6-foot-1 guard was effectively relegated to 12th-man status in the gold medal-winning squad. He is averaging a brutal 12.3 points on .318/.200/.571 shooting splits, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per night. Those are far from All-Star numbers for the 24-year-old Iowa State product. Even though he's playing on the road Monday against one of the NBA's better young point-of-attack defenders, Haliburton is overdue for a big night. Watch for him to finally step forward.

More pacesetters: 4 Magic players questionable before the Indiana duel