| PACERS | vs. | CAVS |
 T.J. Ford |
Point Guard |
 M. Williams |
 B. Rush |
Shooting Guard |
 A. Parker |
 D. Jones |
Small Forward |
 L. James |
 D. Granger |
Power Forward |
 J.J. Hickson |
 R. Hibbert |
Center |  Z. Ilgauskas |
 E. Watson |
Sixth Man |
 D. Gibson |
 J. O'Brien |
Coach |  M. Brown |
By Conrad Brunner | Nov. 19, 2009
The Pacers had their five-game winning streak snapped with a disappointing loss to an opponent with a losing record Wednesday night.
The Cavaliers had their five-game winning streak snapped with a disappointing loss to an opponent with a losing record Wednesday night.
The Pacers are shorthanded and their best player is struggling with an injury that has bothered him for some time but is doing his best to play through.
The Cavaliers are shorthanded and their best player is struggling with an injury that has bothered him for some time but is doing his best to play through.
The teams have something else in common: both will be trying to get back on track Friday in Conseco Fieldhouse.
"There's no reason to be derailed (by the 110-103 loss to the Knicks)," said Pacers Coach Jim O'Brien. "New York deserved to win and our guys know why we didn't win and we were 0-3 at one time and it didn't seem to rattle us at all. We came out and won five straight games.
"Our guys are veterans, they're very professional, they work hard and they also realize it's an 82-game season and there are going to be a lot of ups and a lot of downs and get on with life. They know that's the way the coaching staff views it. We didn't come in here and kick chairs. We told 'em what we didn't do well, why we lost the game and let's get back to work."
There was good news in Thursday's practice as Jeff Foster, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy all were able to go full-court. Foster (ankle) missed the last seven games, Murphy (back) the last six and Dunleavy (knee) has yet to play this season.
"It was good," said O'Brien. "We had a good workout with these guys."
Dunleavy won't play Friday but Murphy and Foster are both possibilities.
Getting Murphy and Dunleavy back will be critical to combat the defensive approach teams taken of late: swarming Danny Granger when he's in the game, collapsing in the lane when he isn't and daring someone else to step forward.
With those two out and Brandon Rush struggling mightily (9-of-34), the Pacers are 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.320).
"We have a couple of issues here. One is spacing," said O'Brien. "I was breaking down the video today at home and I said to my wife, 'Sharon, you've got to see this.' Danny's out, we were trying run a pick-and-roll with T.J. (Ford), and there were five defenders in the paint, just inviting perimeter shots.
"And the other thing is Danny's heel has been an issue so his mobility has been a little restricted."
The Cavs (8-4) lost 108-91 to Washington as LeBron James aggravated his bruised left wrist on a dunk, but he is expected to be fully available against the Pacers. Shaquille O'Neal (shoulder) is not likely to play, though Anderson Varejao (hip) may return.
TRENDS
Danny Granger has averaged 28.8 points and 9.0 rebounds, shooting 38-of-74 (.514) overall and 14-of-28 (.500) from the 3-point line. … Tyler Hansbrough had season highs of 21 minutes, 14 points and three assists against the Knicks. … Roy Hibbert has five double-doubles in the last seven games, averaging 14.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.71 blocks in that span. … Dahntay Jones has fallen one point short of his career high with 25 twice in the last three games, averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists.KEY TO THE GAME
With injuries reducing the available bodies, the Indiana bench has been outscored 215-148 in the last six games, an average deficit of 11.2 points. The margin in the loss to New York was 65-22. Cleveland likewise has struggled with bench production, as the Cavs average of 22.1 bench points ranks 26th in the NBA. If the Pacers can get a lift from the second unit, that could make the difference.INJURIES
Pacers - Troy Murphy (back) and Jeff Foster (ankle) are day-to-day; Mike Dunleavy (knee) and Travis Diener (toe) are out.Cavs - Jamario Moon (ankle) is questionable; Anderson Varejao (hip), Shaquille O’Neal (shoulder) and Leon Powe (knee) are out.
