INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- A pair of teams without their All-Star
big men hook up Wednesday when the San Antonio Spurs visit the
Indiana Pacers.
In their first full game without Tim Duncan, who sprained his
right ankle at Detroit on Sunday, the Spurs dropped an 88-75
decision to the New York Knicks on Monday.
Duncan, who may miss the rest of the regular season with the
injury, was sorely missed Monday as San Antonio recorded its
lowest points total since January 15.
The Spurs' starting five combined for just 38 points - led by
Tony Parker's 14 - while Devin Brown came off the bench to
provide 22. With limited minutes from Manu Ginobili, who is
still bothered by a myriad of injuries, San Antonio scored just
28 points after the break.
The loss dropped the Spurs to 0-2 on their current three-game
road trip, and, coupled with a win by the Phoenix Suns on
Tuesday, put them in second place in the Western Conference.
The Pacers are 5-4 since losing center Jermaine O'Neal to a
sprained right shoulder March 3 at Denver, an injury he revealed
may keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
They recovered well from the loss of O'Neal with five wins in
seven games to climb back into the playoff race, but dropped
both ends of a home-and-home set with the New Jersey Nets on
Sunday and Tuesday.
Stephen Jackson continued a strong stretch of play with 23
points in a 98-91 loss to the Nets on Tuesday. Four others
scored in double figures and Indiana held a 42-30 rebounding
edge but shot just 38 percent of the field.
Jackson is doing his best to replace some of O'Neal's offensive
punch, averaging 23.2 points in the nine games since the star
center was hurt.
Duncan and O'Neal were the stars the last time these teams met,
a 111-98 win for San Antonio on January 6. Parker collected 26
points and six assists.
San Antonio has won 11 of the last 14 meetings from the Pacers.




