Pre-Game Media Notes: Pacers | Trail Blazers
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SCOUTING THE PACERS: With victories in their first two games under coach Frank Vogel, the Pacers will try to make it three in a row for the first time this season. After handing Toronto its 12th straight loss in Frank Vogel's debut Monday, Indianasent sent Cleveland to its 22nd consecutive defeat with a 117-112 road victory. Indiana is one game behind Charlotte for the final East playoff spot. Pacers president Larry Bird, who was not pleased with how former coach Jim O'Brien handled the team's young players, must be happy with how Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George have played under Vogel. Hibbert totaled 37 points and 21 rebounds in the last two games, while Hansbrough and George have averaged a combined 28.0 points in those contests. The Pacers will try to win three consecutive home games for the first time since April 4.
SCOUTING THE TRAIL BLAZERS: The Blazers will try to win their sixth straight in this series. With Greg Oden and Elliot Williams out for the season and Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby also nursing knee injuries that make it uncertain when they'll return, the Blazers (26-23) have lost 164 man games to injury. The team is hoping Wesley Matthews isn't the latest to miss time after he rolled his right ankle in the first half, then suffered a knee-to-knee hit in a 109-90 loss at Denver on Wednesday. Matthews, who scored 17 of his team-high 19 points in the opening 18 minutes, needed help to get to the locker room after hurting his ankle. The Blazers' second-year guard, averaging 16.3 points, scored 19 with a career-best nine assists in a 97-92 home win over the Pacers (19-27) on Jan. 22. Portland rallied from 16 down to win its season-high fifth straight. The Trail Blazers have lost three of four since that matchup at the Rose Garden. Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds in that matchup, scored 20 points with eight boards in the teams' last meeting at Conseco - a 102-91 Portland victory Dec. 9, 2009. Portland has won two in a row at Indiana after losing five straight as a visitor in the series.
INJURY REPORT: For the Pacers, Danny Granger is day-to-day with a sinus infection and Brandon Rush (sprained right ankle) is out. For the Trail Blazers, Marcus Camby (left knee), Greg Oden (left knee), Brandon Roy (left knee) and Elliot Williams (right knee) are out.
TICKETS: Buy Now | Collectible Friday
BROADCAST INFO: The game will be telecast at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Indiana with Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner calling the game and Stacy Paetz on the sideline, with a pre-game show starting at 6:30. The radio broadcast is anchored by the flagship of the Pacers' network, WIBC 93 FM, featuring Mark Boyle and Bob "Slick" Leonard, with Kevin Lee reporting.
INTERACT: You can chat with other fans around the country in our live game chat, which begins at tipoff.