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PACERS at UTAH JAZZ Tonight at 9:00, EnergySolutions Arena TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy |
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 Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
The longest road trip of the season concludes tonight in Salt Lake City with what might be the biggest challenge. The Pacers (13-24) are coming off three straight road nail-biters, including a 120-117 loss in Golden State Sunday night. Utah (22-15) on the other hand is well-rested and playing very well. In the last two games, the Jazz routed Detroit (99-82 Saturday) and New Orleans (116-90 Wednesday). While the Pacers have averaged 117.2 points in their last five games and posted an assist-turnover ratio of 115:49 in their last four, they now run into one of the top defensive teams in the league. Though playing without Carlos Boozer (knee surgery), Utah just keeps rolling right along.
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 Jerry Sloan |
 Jarrett Jack |
Point Guard
After missing three straight games with multiple strains in his back. T.J. Ford played 25 minutes off the bench Sunday night and had 15 points and six assists but by the second half was clearly struggling with his movement. That likely means a 10th consecutive start for Jarrett Jack, who had 12 points, six assists and six rebounds against the Warriors. Deron Williams is one of the best pure point guards in the league, averaging 14.7 points and 9.9 assists (second in the NBA), with the rare combination of strength and quickness.
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 Deron Williams |
 Stephen Graham |
Shooting Guard
Stephen Graham continues to play well filling in for Marquis Daniels, who has missed the last three with a groin strain. Graham has averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 21-of-40 (.525) in the last four. In starting the last three, the Pacers have been plus-22 in his 82 minutes and minus-24 when he has been on the bench. With regular starter C.J. Miles doubtful due to a sprained right ankle), Ronnie Price could get the call once again. The 6-2, 190-pound price started against Detroit and had seven points and six rebounds.
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 Ronnie Price |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
There's not much more you can say about the run Danny Granger has been on than what the numbers tell you. He has averaged 35.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocked shots in the last five games. In his last 14, he has averaged 31.1 points, topping 40 three times and 30 on four other occasions. Ronnie Brewer is an athletic and versatile player, a strong defender and a player with a knack of making tough shots in clutch situations.
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 Ronnie Brewer |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
Troy Murphy picked a bad time for perhaps his worst game of the season, going 0-of-4 from the field in Golden State. The double-double machine posted a double-single (seven points, six rebounds) for the first time since Nov. 14 when he was battling a viral infection. He has a major challenge against Paul Millsap, who has taken over in Boozer's absence. Millsap has averaged 18.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and .568 shooting in 21 starts and had a string of 19 consecutive double-doubles snapped Saturday. That was the longest streak in the NBA since Kevin Garnett had 33 in 2006.
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 Paul Millsap |
 Roy Hibbert |
Center
Roy Hibbert got the night off against the up-tempo Warriors but could return against the more conservative Jazz. Hibbert has averaged 10.0 points on .593 shooting in his last eight outings but still struggles with foul trouble. The underrated Mehmet Okur is integral to Utah's success, averaging 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, numbers that would make him an All-Star center in the East. Utah is 15-4 when he scores at least 15 points.
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 Mehmet Okur |
 Mike Dunleavy |
Bench
You'd expect a player that missed two months would at some point show the effects of the long layoff and that's apparently what hit Mike Dunleavy Sunday in Oakland, when he shot 4-of-14. Overall his play has been very solid in three games back with averages of 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 22 minutes. The only part of his game that has consistently struggled has been the 3-pointer; he's 4-of-16 from the arc. Travis Diener has 15 assists and one turnover in his last four but missed the potential game-winner in the closing seconds Sunday. Jeff Foster started against the Warriors and pulled 12 rebounds but Brandon Rush continued to struggle. He has totaled 18 points on 6-of-24 shooting in the last eight. A well-balanced team, Utah has a strong bench led by Andrei Kirilenko (12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks), Brevin Knight, Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring and Kosta Koufos.
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 Andre Kirilenko |
