The grueling 82-game NBA regular season continues to get interesting for the Orlando Magic, even when a hapless team like the Indiana Pacers come to town.

Since losing to the Miami Heat at home on Nov. 25 – when the last second miracle miss by Dwyane Wade found the paws of Michael Beasley for the game winner – the Magic went on to win six straight before dropping their last two (at Utah and Phoenix) during a four-game road trip out west.

The Magic (18-6) came out in the first quarter against the Pacers (8-14) on Monday night looking like they had just touched down at Orlando International Airport only a few hours earlier.

Vince Carter and Dwight Howard on the defensive end. (Photo by Scott Mcall)

It was a lethargic and uninspiring effort to begin with, that is aside from the work Vince Carter put in despite being banged up and feeling a bit under the weather in the 106-98 come-from-behind win.

Carter scored 14 in the opening frame on 5-of-10 shooting as he attacked the basket and connected on two three-pointers and two free throw attempts when not hoisting crowd-rousing circus shots.

While the rest of the home team was caught sleepwalking through the opening 12 minutes (shooting just 26-percent as a group), Indiana assassins Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy were helping the Pacers open up a 30-17 advantage after one quarter while leading a 58-percent shooting charge.

Yet somehow there was a feeling throughout Amway Arena that Orlando was in no way out of the game.

They fought back from the poor start and committed just seven turnovers in all after posting double-digit infractions in each of their previous four games on the road.

“We got off to a terrible start,” said Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy. “We took quick, bad shots and we were a step late on everything defensively.”

Anthony Johnson sets up the Magic offense. (Photo by Scott McCall)

That quickly changed once the bench unloaded to start the second quarter and contributors such as Anthony Johnson and J.J. Redick helped lift the energy level on both ends of the court.

“Our second unit guys did a real good job,” Van Gundy said. “They saved us in the first half and got us back in the game.”

From there Dwight Howard emerged. He began piecing together a 21-point, 23 rebound outing, with four blocked shots, despite a minor scuffle with Murphy following a hard foul. The defensive revival by the Magic helped them enter the break facing just a one-point deficit, 54-53. Howard finished 13-of-22 from the free throw line while shooting 4-for-9 from the field. Johnson and Redick each chipped in 13 points and combined for 12 assists.

“That second unit in the second quarter really blew things open and really got us back into it,” said Carter. “They did the work. They deserve the credit for really getting us back in the game.”

J.J. Redick makes his way through the Indiana defense. (Photo by Scott McCall)

While marquee guys like Howard and Carter, who finished with a game-high 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists, did what is expected of them on Monday, the efforts of the supporting cast clearly dug this team from the depths of despair.

“When given the opportunity everybody steps up to the challenge because they’ve been there before and they know how to carry the load or how to contribute when given the opportunity,” said Johnson.

He should know, having found himself in and out of the lineup the past two seasons depending on the health of teammate Jameer Nelson.

What topped it all off for Orlando was the arrival a late defensive effort (rebounds included) which picked up in the fourth quarter, notably over the final three minutes. That led to Carter draining a couple free throws and Rashard Lewis and Redick hitting from beyond the arc to put the game out of reach down the stretch.

“Our defense was not good in the first half and we were fixing to get blown out of the game,” said Redick afterwards. “The guys coming off of the bench knew we had to give us some energy to get us back in it, and we all separately did good things.”

If only the Magic could make that style of play a permanent part of their repertoire instead of fumbling their way around early on most nights as they have for much of the season.

“I’d like to see that kind of focus and intensity for much longer periods of time instead of just doing it when we think we need to do it,” said Van Gundy.

– More Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers –

– Dick Scanion and Box Score at NBA.com

– Tim Povtak at Fanhouse

– Andrew Melnick at Howard the Dunk

– Team page at HoopsWorld

– SB Nation’s Third Quarter Collapse