INDIANAPOLIS – The Magic bowed out of the NBA Playoffs Tuesday night after losing Game 5 to the Indiana Pacers 105-87. Now the rumors and speculation surrounding the future of the team's two leaders -- Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy -- will most certainly ramp up.
Van Gundy told reporters after Tuesday's loss that he wants to continue to coach the Magic, if team management allows.
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"I want to come back, ya know. But that's not up to me," Van Gundy said. "And you know, as far as the speculation, I would say the same, same thing I've been saying all year -- who gives a damn. I mean they'll make a decision when they make a decision."
The relationship between Van Gundy and Dwight Howard remains in question. Multiple sources have told Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore that Howard does not want to play for Van Gundy anymore. Howard terminated an opt-out clause in his contract during the regular season and is under contract with the Magic through the 2012-2013 season.
Orlando limped into the postseason without Howard, who missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. But give the Magic credit. They played tough throughout the series against the Pacers, especially when their backs were up against the wall.
Orlando overcame a huge deficit Saturday only to lose in overtime. On Tuesday night, the Magic had the lead going into the fourth quarter. The Pacers, however, stepped up their game and outscored the Magic by 20 points in the final period. Despite the letdown, the players are proud of their performance.
"What I'm going to take is the fact that we were just a very resilient group and we never gave up," said Ryan Anderson, the NBA's Most Improved Player this season. "We played extremely hard."
Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 27 points and five assists. Glen Davis added 15. Anderson scored 14 points.
Five Pacers scored in double figures, led by Danny Granger with 25. The Pacers could be returning to Florida very soon. They await the winner of the Heat-Knicks series in the second round.