Pacers Look To Stay Strong At Home
By Dan Bruno
The Indiana Pacers play host to the Charlotte Hornets, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday evening.
This marks the fourth game of a five-game home stand for the Pacers (30-15), where they have gone 2-1 so far, with a loss the 76ers and wins over the Suns and, most recently, the Mavericks. This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pacers, as they are coming off a solid win over the Mavs on Saturday night. Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans led the way in the win, as they combined for 35 points off the bench. Victor Oladipo only had 12 points, but added eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Oladipo leads the Pacers with an average of 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The Pacers are one of the best defensive teams in the league, as they are holding opponents to an average of 103.4 points per game, which is the lowest total in the league. The Pacers are 16-6 at home this season.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a three-game road trip for the Hornets (22-23), who have dropped three of their last four games on the road, and are 6-15 on the road this season. The Hornets hold on to the eighth spot in the East, with a 2.0-game lead over the ninth seed, and just 0.5 games behind seventh place. They have won three games straight, but are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Kemba Walker leads the Hornets, averaging 25.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Bismack Biyombo has taken the starting role at the center position, and is playing well, averaging 6.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, over his last 10 games. Nicolas Batum has been relatively quiet thus far, averaging 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season.
This marks the fourth game of a five-game home stand for the Pacers (30-15), where they have gone 2-1 so far, with a loss the 76ers and wins over the Suns and, most recently, the Mavericks. This marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Pacers, as they are coming off a solid win over the Mavs on Saturday night. Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans led the way in the win, as they combined for 35 points off the bench. Victor Oladipo only had 12 points, but added eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Oladipo leads the Pacers with an average of 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The Pacers are one of the best defensive teams in the league, as they are holding opponents to an average of 103.4 points per game, which is the lowest total in the league. The Pacers are 16-6 at home this season.
Meanwhile, this marks the first game of a three-game road trip for the Hornets (22-23), who have dropped three of their last four games on the road, and are 6-15 on the road this season. The Hornets hold on to the eighth spot in the East, with a 2.0-game lead over the ninth seed, and just 0.5 games behind seventh place. They have won three games straight, but are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Kemba Walker leads the Hornets, averaging 25.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Bismack Biyombo has taken the starting role at the center position, and is playing well, averaging 6.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, over his last 10 games. Nicolas Batum has been relatively quiet thus far, averaging 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season.
Timberwolves Host Suns on Sunday
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on Sunday.
The Suns (11-36) come into this matchup losing 12 of their last 15 games, as stretches like that have become all too common for this team. Phoenix currently owns the second-worst record in the NBA, as they look well on their way to another top-pick. Accumulating all these picks is great for the future but it's got to hurt fans to watch this team struggle year after year. There are pieces to get excited about though, with Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton showing signs of brilliance. The emergence of Kelly Oubre Jr. is promising too, as that Trevor Ariza trade is looking like a steal with the potential he possesses. Building for the future is all that really matters though and it appears the future is in good hands as long as they continue to add pieces to this puzzle.
The Timberwolves (21-24) come into this matchup losing three of their last four games, as they haven't been able to match up with their tough competition. The most discouraging loss was a 149-107 beatdown at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week. That shows where this team really struggles, as they're one of the worst defensive units in the NBA. In fact, the Timberwolves sit 20th in points allowed and 21st in defensive efficiency. The fact that they remain below .500 this late into the season is discouraging as well, as this development was supposed to be much further than this. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are doing their parts but they need more from their role players if they want to get back into contention.
Phoenix won their first game over Minnesota earlier this season, 107-99, on December 15. Prior to that, the Timberwolves won six of their previous eight games over the Suns.
The Suns (11-36) come into this matchup losing 12 of their last 15 games, as stretches like that have become all too common for this team. Phoenix currently owns the second-worst record in the NBA, as they look well on their way to another top-pick. Accumulating all these picks is great for the future but it's got to hurt fans to watch this team struggle year after year. There are pieces to get excited about though, with Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton showing signs of brilliance. The emergence of Kelly Oubre Jr. is promising too, as that Trevor Ariza trade is looking like a steal with the potential he possesses. Building for the future is all that really matters though and it appears the future is in good hands as long as they continue to add pieces to this puzzle.
The Timberwolves (21-24) come into this matchup losing three of their last four games, as they haven't been able to match up with their tough competition. The most discouraging loss was a 149-107 beatdown at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week. That shows where this team really struggles, as they're one of the worst defensive units in the NBA. In fact, the Timberwolves sit 20th in points allowed and 21st in defensive efficiency. The fact that they remain below .500 this late into the season is discouraging as well, as this development was supposed to be much further than this. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are doing their parts but they need more from their role players if they want to get back into contention.
Phoenix won their first game over Minnesota earlier this season, 107-99, on December 15. Prior to that, the Timberwolves won six of their previous eight games over the Suns.
Clippers and Spurs Engage In Lone Star Battle
The Los Angeles Clippers take on the San Antonio Spurs at AT & T Center on Sunday evening.
The Clippers (24-21) come into Sunday's game badly in need of a win, as they've dropped five straight contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Golden State Warriors, which toppled them by a 112-94 score Friday night. Tobias Harris led the way with 28 points, adding nine rebounds and two assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the only other double-digit scorer for the Clippers, posting 24 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Marcin Gortat and Avery Bradley generated matching six-point efforts, hauling in five and four rebounds, respectively. Danilo Gallinari played just eight minutes before exiting with a back injury.
The Clippers will list Gallinari and Lou Williams (hamstring) as questionable for Sunday's game. Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) will likely carry the same designation.
The Spurs (27-20) have been through some rough patches recently, but they'll come into Sunday's contest on a bit of an upswing. San Antonio has notched two straight wins, and they own three victories in their last five contests overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Minnesota Timberwolves, which they toppled by a 116-113 score on Friday night. LaMarcus Aldridge paced the Spurs with 25 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Rudy Gay totaled 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. Marco Belinelli poured in 19 points and supplemented them with five boards, three assists and two steals. Davis Bertans supplied 11 points, six rebounds and one block. Bryn Forbes collected 10 points.
The Spurs will list DeMar DeRozan (ankle) as probable after he missed Friday's game.
Sunday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Spurs hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 125-87 and 122-111 victories on Dec. 13 and 29, respectively. The Clippers managed a 116-111 win in the first game back on Nov. 15.
The Clippers (24-21) come into Sunday's game badly in need of a win, as they've dropped five straight contests. Their most recent stumble came against the Golden State Warriors, which toppled them by a 112-94 score Friday night. Tobias Harris led the way with 28 points, adding nine rebounds and two assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the only other double-digit scorer for the Clippers, posting 24 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Marcin Gortat and Avery Bradley generated matching six-point efforts, hauling in five and four rebounds, respectively. Danilo Gallinari played just eight minutes before exiting with a back injury.
The Clippers will list Gallinari and Lou Williams (hamstring) as questionable for Sunday's game. Luc Mbah a Moute (knee) will likely carry the same designation.
The Spurs (27-20) have been through some rough patches recently, but they'll come into Sunday's contest on a bit of an upswing. San Antonio has notched two straight wins, and they own three victories in their last five contests overall. Their most recent success came at the expense of the Minnesota Timberwolves, which they toppled by a 116-113 score on Friday night. LaMarcus Aldridge paced the Spurs with 25 points, adding nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Rudy Gay totaled 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. Marco Belinelli poured in 19 points and supplemented them with five boards, three assists and two steals. Davis Bertans supplied 11 points, six rebounds and one block. Bryn Forbes collected 10 points.
The Spurs will list DeMar DeRozan (ankle) as probable after he missed Friday's game.
Sunday's contest marks the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Spurs hold a 2-1 series lead, having notched 125-87 and 122-111 victories on Dec. 13 and 29, respectively. The Clippers managed a 116-111 win in the first game back on Nov. 15.