Candace Buckner

IndyStar

Pacers at Magic, 7 p.m. Wednesday, FSI

ORLANDO — Now that Solomon Hill is earning more situational minutes, he recognizes the greatest weakness he must overcome.

No, it’s not ramping up his aggressiveness. More than any other veteran on the Indiana Pacers’ roster, the 6-7, 230-pound Hill can go from rejoicing over his teammates’ 3-pointers while on the bench to stepping on the court and locking up the opponents’ best wing player.

It’s not his outside shot. Hill, who has missed his last 10 attempts from the 3-point range, has shown the ability to compete alongside the best shooters during practice, though that ability has yet to translate into game time.

Hill just needs to chill out.

“I think one thing I have to do now that I’m, like, playing actually is just relax,” said Hill who played close to 18 minutes during the Pacers’ 103-100 overtime loss Monday to the Miami Heat. “I feel like I’m just trying to stay in there by just doing the right things, and I’m thinking too much. I think once I relax and see the first one go in, I’ll be OK.”

The Pacers’ bench rotation is fluid — nothing is “permanent” is how coach Frank Vogel describes a unit that adapts to matchups — but Hill has appeared in five consecutive games. He has taken on responsibilities that would’ve seemed implausible back when he logged only two minutes in the opening 10 games of the season.

On Monday, Hill replaced Rodney Stuckey at the 3:22 mark of the extra period to lighten the defensive load for the star player remaining on the floor. While Paul George, who experienced fatigue in carrying the offensive burden for more than 41 minutes, checked guard Tyler Johnson, Hill drew the Dwyane Wade assignment. Since appearing in every game last season, Hill has earned the trust of his coach and teammates to handle such defensive duties. He directly forced Wade into two misses.

“The times Solo has been on the court, he’s just been active and just out there playing his heart out,” Stuckey said. “You definitely have to find minutes for guys like that.”

The best thing about teaming with Hill on the second unit, Stuckey said, laughing: “I get to switch on defense.”

Hill clearly looks more confident while playing defense, but he has appeared out of sorts on the other end of the court.

BLOWN LEAD: Pacers fall in overtime to Heat after leading by 18 in third quarter

As the Pacers trailed 99-98 in overtime, George dribbled around the perimeter, drawing defenders like the pied piper in an elementary school. George then noticed Hill beyond the arc and made a pass with the shot clock winding down. However, with Johnson moving away, Hill hesitated. When Johnson decided to actually defend the open man, Hill lofted a shot that would’ve given the Pacers a two-point lead but instead hit the other side of the backboard and caused a 24-second violation.

“I thought (Johnson) was going to help in the gap, I was trying to look at the clock,” Hill said, then admitted that, once again, “I thought too much.”

After the loss, Hill still couldn’t stop rewinding the game in his mind. He cited his errant 3 as one of the missed plays that doomed the Pacers. Hill, who finished with 4 points, 4 fouls and 1 rebound, called himself out for not working hard enough under the defensive glass in the final seconds.

“It’s just certain plays,” Hill said. “It puts us in position to win. We just got to take care of the little plays. I should’ve had a box-out.”

Hill has the physical tools to be an instant defensive stopper whenever called upon. He just wants to loosen up.

“I don’t know. I’m not going to think about that anymore,” Hill said, responding to a question about whether he will get consistent minutes moving forward. “That’s part of me over-thinking. I’m just going to go out there and play the game, play my game when I do get the opportunity, but it’s a testament to our team. Everybody’s playing right now.”

Follow Star reporter Candace Buckner on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

COURTSIDE TICKETS: How you could win some

INDIANA AT ORLANDO

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Wednesday

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-AM (1070), -FM (93.5).

PACERS (19-15)

Projected starters

Pos. Player PPG Key stat

PG George Hill 12.4 4.0 rpg

SG Monta Ellis 13.2 4.6 apg

SF Paul George 24.7 7.7 rpg

PF Lavoy Allen 5.3 5.5 rpg

C Ian Mahinmi 8.2 7.1 rpg

6th Rodney Stuckey 10.3 3.4 rpg

MAGIC (19-16)

Projected starters

Pos. Player PPG Key stat

PG Victor Oladipo 12.5 4.8 apg

SG Evan Fournier 13.9 3.1 rpg

SF Tobias Harris 14.0 7.2 rpg

PF Channing Frye 5.9 3.2 rpg

C Nikola Vučević 16.8 8.3 rpg

6th Andrew Nicholson 8.1 4.2 rpg

STORYLINES

C.J. MILES “QUESTIONABLE”: The Pacers announced on Tuesday that C.J. Miles (right shoulder) is questionable to play against the Magic. In the first quarter during Monday’s loss in Miami, Miles left the floor while holding his arm that appeared to go limp. While the injury appeared serious, Miles did not have to undergo an MRI.

ANOTHER OFFICIATING WHOOPSIE: Chris Bosh should have been called for an offensive foul before Dwyane Wade scored the game-tying layup at the buzzer – that’s how the NBA viewed the play a day after the Heat’s overtime win over the Indiana Pacers. On Tuesday the league released its daily Last Two Minute Report that reviews all the officiated plays during games that were within 5 points or less, and acknowledged Bosh had extended his hip against George in the play that allowed Wade to easily get to the rim. For the second time in less than a week, the Pacers and George were on the wrong end of a missed call. Last Wednesday in Chicago, Jimmy Butler made illegal contact with George on the Pacers’ final play. George should’ve received two free throws to possibly tie the game but did not get a whistle and Indiana lost 102-100 in overtime.

PREDICTION: Scott Skiles won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for December but his Magic team has struggled in January. In three straight losses, Orlando has allowed opponents to score 103 points or more – a strange twist for a team that built its early season success on defense. But the Pacers have their own problem to nip in the bud before it becomes a real streak. After two straight overtime losses on the road (Chicago and Miami), the Pacers are just 7-10 away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse. However, that record should improve after Wednesday. Pacers win 101-88.

— Candace Buckner