Indiana (20-15) at New Jersey (19-15) 3:30 pm EST
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The New Jersey Nets hope
to rebound from their worst loss of the season when they host
the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
After reeling off 10 consecutive victories from December
16-January 8, the Nets finished their four-game road trip with
three straight losses by a combined margin of 50 points.
The road trip hit a low point Saturday as New Jersey dropped a
110-77 decision to the Dallas Mavericks.
Jason Kidd scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, but the rest of
the Nets shot just 36 percent (21-of-59). New Jersey also
committed 23 turnovers while allowing Dallas to connect on 53
percent (40-of-76).
The Nets hope to get back on track Monday against a Pacers squad
that has won four of its last six due to the strong play of
Stephen Jackson.
Filling in as the team's top offensive option in the absence of
stars Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, Jackson has averaged 21.6
points while shooting 47 percent from the arc over his last
eight contests.
Jackson scored 29 points and assisted on Anthony Johnson's
game-winning layup Saturday as Indiana rallied for a 91-89
victory over the Chicago Bulls.
O'Neal scored 12 points in just 14 minutes before leaving late
in the first half with a sprained ankle.
Austin Croshere went 4-of-6 from the arc and finished with 12
points off the bench, and Johnson added 10 and five assists for
the Pacers, who made 30-of-39 free throws.





