This probably wasn't the start to his career that Daniel Orton and the Orlando Magic had in mind.
Orton, the 29th overall pick by the Magic in the 2010 NBA Draft, was ejected in the third quarter after getting into a fight with Pacers center Josh McRoberts and scored only three points on 1-of-8 shooting in 13 minutes and 28 seconds on the floor. Without effective play from their top pick Orlando dropped their opening game of the 2010 AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League with an 86-77 loss on Monday afternoon at RDV Sportsplex.
Patrick Ewing, Jr, led all Orlando scorers with 15 points, as his dad looked on from the bench, where he was serving as Orlando's head coach. Forward Jeff Adrien added a double for the Magic with 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Orlando fell behind 19-14 in the first quarter, but the real damage was done in the second wheNIndiana outscored the Magic 28-17 on the strength of 14 trips to the free throw line where they sank nine to Orlando's two free throws for the quarter.
The Magic surged back in the second half, actually playing their best ball after Orton's ejection. When guard Donell Taylor hit a three with 2:59 to go in the third, Orlando only trailed by three, 56-53. But the Pacers finished the quarter on a 10-3 run, which included five points on the only two shots of the game by Bryce Taylor, to fend off the Magic. Their best effort exhausted, Orlando would not get closer than eight the rest of the game.
Athletic forward Stanley Robinson, Orlando's second round pick (59th overall) scored only four points but used his length and drive to corral seven rebounds and was impressive in his pro debut. Guard Joe Crawford, who played in the D-League for the Los Angeles D-Fenders last season also impressed with his mid-range touch and ability to draw fouls on his drive. He scored 10 points: six from the field and four at the line.
The Magic are back in action on Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. when they take on the Utah Jazz at RDV.
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