Pacers-Bucks Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Dec 18 2012 11:07AM

Perhaps the biggest concern facing the Indiana Pacers during their longest winning stretch of the season is the health of one of their top players.

The visiting Pacers expect center Roy Hibbert to be on the floor as they try for a fourth consecutive victory Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Indiana's leading rebounder at 8.4 per game, Hibbert suffered a deep thigh bruise in the first half of Saturday's 88-77 win at Detroit. Though the 7-foot-2 Hibbert did not return to the contest, Pacers coach Frank Vogel expects him to be ready Tuesday. If not, Vogel may need another strong effort from his bench.

While starting forwards David West and Paul George combined for 38 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, Tyler Hansbrough had 11 points with six rebounds off the bench and fellow reserve Jeff Pendergraph added two with three boards in just under eight minutes.

That team effort helped Indiana (13-11) to its third straight victory and ninth in 13 games.

"We are trying to put a streak together and win some games," West told the Pacers' official website. "We are starting to feel good about what we are doing here."

Owner of one of the NBA's stingiest defenses at 90.4 points and 40.9 percent shooting, the Pacers have held Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit to 81.0 and 38.4 percent from the field over the last three contests.

"That's what we've been preaching all year long: The defense is going to get us the wins," said guard George Hill, who had 18 points and seven assists at Detroit.

Indiana held the Pistons scoreless for a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter.

"We just try to make teams score through us or over us," said West, who has averaged 22.0 points in the last seven road games.

Indiana has won five of seven on the road since losing six of the first seven away from home. However, the Pacers' five-game overall winning streak against the Bucks (12-10) and three-game run at Milwaukee ended with a 99-85 loss on Nov. 14. Hansbrough scored a season-high 17 points but West was held to a season-low seven as Indiana shot 37.5 percent.

Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis each scored 16 in that meeting, but Milwaukee's backcourt duo was held to a combined 22 on 7-of-27 shooting (25.9 percent) when its season-high four-game winning streak ended with a 111-85 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

The Bucks shot a season-low 36.1 percent, including 26.2 in the first half while the Clippers made 52.5 percent of their shots.

"We were flat-footed the whole night and gave up 66 points in the paint," said Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles, whose team has shot 40.4 percent despite winning five of nine. "We just generally weren't very competitive.

"What we've had trouble doing lately is making shots."

Veteran swingman and former Pacer Marquis Daniels has been an exception. Daniels has started the last eight games and is averaging 12.3 points and shooting 48.4 percent over the last six.

The Bucks will be without center Joel Przybilla, who was suspended one game for throwing a ball that hit a referee Saturday.

Jennings helps Bucks beat Pacers

Posted Dec 19 2012 1:08AM

MILWAUKEE (AP) Mike Dunleavy missed the previous seven games because of a bruised left knee. The way he played Tuesday night, it was hard to tell.

Dunleavy scored 17 points off the bench, including grabbing a key rebound and scoring on a putback after missing a 3-pointer with 1:35 left, to help the Milwaukee Bucks hold off the Indiana Pacers 98-93.

"It was nice to have him back," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "It didn't seem like he had been out. He's not known for being a great athlete. He is really long and he has a really great basketball set. When he is around the rim, usually something good happens."

Dunleavy said it just felt good to be back on the court and to contribute to a win against a Central Division rival.

"I felt very comfortable out there," said Dunleavy, who hit 3 of 5 3-pointers. "I feel like my condition is a little bit down, but I felt good. I hate missing games, but it's good to be back and good to get a win."

The other star of the game for Milwaukee was Brandon Jennings, who scored 34 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out six assists.

Jennings scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.

"Brandon was good from the get-go," Dunleavy said. "He made big shots and very big plays. That's why he's Brandon."

Skiles played Jennings 44 minutes even though the Bucks play at Memphis on Wednesday.

"We needed him out there," Skiles said. "He was somebody out there knocking down shots. We needed him in the game."

Monta Ellis added 19 points for Milwaukee, which won for the fifth time in the last six games, despite being outrebounded 51-37.

The loss snapped Indiana's four-game winning streak. The Pacers had won 9 of 13 entering the contest against the Bucks.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel was satisfied with his team's effort, no the execution.

"We competed our tails off," he said. "We had a tough night shooting the basketball. We turned the ball over too much. We have to take care of the ball better."

Pacers center Roy Hibbert, who sustained a deep thigh bruise in the first half of Indiana's 86-77 win over Detroit Saturday, was back in the starting lineup Tuesday. He was held to eight points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time.

He was disappointed the Pacers had lost the first two games of the season series to Milwaukee.

"We wanted to have this win, but we have to win the next two against the Bucks at our place," he said.

Jennings scored four straight points midway through the fourth quarter to give the Bucks an 89-85 lead with 4:10 remaining.

Paul George drove the lane for Indiana for a dunk to cut the lead to two, but Jennings responded with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3:30 remaining to give the Bucks a 92-87 lead.

David West hit one of two free throws, but Dunleavy rebounded his own miss and scored to give Milwaukee a 94-88 lead with 1:35 remaining.

George Hill hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 94-91 with 1:17 remaining. Jennings then drove the lane and scored with 1 minute left to boost the lead to 96-91 and the Bucks held on for the win.

The Pacers were hurt by 20 turnovers.

NOTES: Pacers guard Lance Stephenson who missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle, was back in the starting lineup. ... The Bucks were without center Joel Przybilla, who was suspended by the NBA for one game for throwing a ball that hit a referee Saturday. ... Bucks guard Beno Udrich missed his ninth straight game with a right ankle injury. Skiles said Udrich was improving, but still "had a way to go" before he would be ready to return to action.

Notebook: Bucks 98, Pacers 93

Rick Braun, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:12 AM - Updated Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:12 AM

THE FACTS: Brandon Jennings scored a season-high 34 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter, as the Milwaukee Bucks fought off the Indiana Pacers for a 98-93 victory Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Monta Ellis added 19 points and Mike Dunleavy had 17 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in his return from a bone bruise in his knee that caused him to miss seven games. The Bucks (13-10) won for the fifth time in six games.

George Hill led the Pacers (13-12) with 18 points, and Paul George had 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Indiana had a three-game winning streak snapped.

QUOTABLE: "We knew that was going to be big for us. We let them get a lot of offensive rebounds in the first half and they were able to score off that. We knew that coming down the stretch, every rebound counted and we locked in there and boxed our men out."
-- Bucks center Larry Sanders on his team winning the rebound battle over the final five minutes after getting crushed the first 43.

THE STAT: The Pacers finished with a 51-37 edge on the boards, but over the final five minutes, beginning with the game tied at 85, the Bucks won the rebound fight, 8-3.

TURNING POINT: Jennings snapped an 85-85 tie with a jumper from the left wing and then added two free throws on the next possession after being fouled on a 3-pointer. After a dunk by Paul George, Jennings hit a step-back 3-pointer for a 92-87 lead, and the Pacers were never closer than three the rest of the way.

QUOTABLE II: "Just trying to do whatever you can to scrap out a win."
-- Dunleavy on his two blocked shots and two huge rebounds down the stretch.

HOT: Jennings made 13-of -22 shots after entering the game shooting just 40.1 percent.

NOT: Not one of the Indiana starters managed to shoot 50 percent, with George Hill going 6-for-16, David West 5-for-14 and Paul George 6-for-15.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Jennings filled out his line nicely, adding six assists and five rebounds to his 34 points.

GOOD MOVE: When centers Ekpe Udoh and Sanders both picked up their fifth fouls in the first 3:08 of the fourth quarter, Bucks coach Scott Skiles turned to barely used veteran Drew Gooden, who turned in a solid 4:01 before Sanders was able to return and finish the game.

ROOKIE WATCH: Ben Hansbrough had seven points and three assists in 12 minutes for the Pacers.

NOTABLE: Bucks rookie Doron Lamb missed the only two shots he took and is now 3 for his last 26 field goal attempts. ... Bucks center Joel Przybilla missed the game serving a one-game suspension for throwing a ball that hit a referee in Saturday night's loss to the Clippers. ... Bucks center Samuel Dalembert may be in Skiles' doghouse. The veteran center did not play despite Sanders and Udoh picking up their fifth fouls and Przybilla being unavailable because of a one-game suspension. ... The Pacers shot 68.8 percent (11 for 16) in the first quarter but just 32.8 percent (21 of 64) over the final three quarters.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Wednesday vs. Utah, Friday @ Cleveland, Saturday @ New Orleans. For the Bucks, Wednesday @ Memphis, Friday @ Boston, Saturday vs. Cleveland.

• Pacers: Granger, Plumlee
• Bucks: Harris, Udrih

• Pacers: West
• Bucks: --

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #26 Pat Fraher, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 11739
• Duration: 2:16