featured-image

Game Preview: Pacers at Clippers

Last Updated: Dec. 16 at 4:45 p.m.

Matchup

After snapping their eight-game skid on Monday, the Pacers (8-17) hope to start a winning streak on Wednesday night in Los Angeles when they meet the Clippers (17-7) for the second time in a week. The Clips pushed past the Pacers on Dec. 10 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 103-96, handing the Blue-and-Gold what was at the time their sixth straight defeat.

But the Pacers' spirits are lifted after dominating the Lakers in Monday night's 110-91 victory. Slow starts had plagued the Blue-and-Gold during their losing streak, including in their loss to the Clippers, when Chris Paul & Co. jumped out to a 25-11 lead. But Indiana flipped the script on Monday, starting the game with a 26-4 run and leading by as many as 39 points in the second quarter.

Offensively, the Pacers have gotten a major spark from their two biggest offseason acquisitions. Shooting guard Rodney Stuckey has recorded consecutive double-doubles, averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds in his last two games. Stuckey always attacks the basket aggressively off the bounce, and he's recently taken that same approach on the boards. Fellow wing C.J. Miles had a breakout performance last week against the Clippers, hitting seven 3-pointers and scoring 30. Miles bruised his knee early in the next game, but returned to the lineup on Monday and showed no signs of rust, scoring 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

The Pacers also looked much sharper on the defensive end on Monday night, both with their one-on-one and help defense. They'll need a strong performance on that end to contain the high-flying Clippers, who rank second in the NBA in both field goal percentage (.481) and 3-point percentage (.388). Between All-NBA point guard Chris Paul, the formidable post tandem of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and sharpshooters J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford, the Clippers boast arguably the most balanced attack in the entire league.

Projected Starters

C.J. Watson

C.J. Watson

Rodney Stuckey

Rodney Stuckey

Solomon Hill

Solomon Hill

David West

David West

Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert

Chris Paul

Chris Paul

J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick

Matt Barnes

Matt Barnes

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan

Pacers: PG - C.J. Watson, SG - Rodney Stuckey, SF - Solomon Hill, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
Clippers: PG - Chris Paul, SG - J.J. Redick, SF - Matt Barnes, PF - Blake Griffin, C - DeAndre Jordan

Injury Report

Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula), George Hill - out (left knee contusion), Ian Mahinmi - out (torn left plantar fascia)

Clippers: Spencer Hawes - doubtful (left knee bruise)

You Can Quote Me On That

"We've got to make sure they don't light us up in the first quarter like they did last time we played them. Redick came in and had a big first quarter. We don't want their shooters to get going early. And if we can limit them, then hopefully when we help on Chris Paul and Griffin and the lob game, they don't make (us) pay from the perimeter." -Vogel on the keys to beating the Clippers

"We've just got to limit our mistakes. Try to defend the pick-and-roll well. Try not to give up lobs to Jordan and Griffin. Contain Chris Paul and Crawford. They're a good overall team. We've just got to come out and compete." -Stuckey on playing the Clippers

"This is our team rebounding approach...Our bigs are like offensive linemen in football. They clear the way. They keep all the crashers off the glass and the other three guys have got to come back and rebound." -Vogel on Stuckey's rebounding numbers being up

"I never thought it was gone. As a shooter, you can't believe that. It was just about finding rhythm and being able to fine-tune (my shot) and keep(ing) doing work." -Miles on breaking out of his early-season shooting slump

Last Meeting

December 10, 2014: The Pacers got within two points with two minutes remaining, but the veteran Clippers got a couple big shots from Jamal Crawford and held on to escape Bankers Life Fieldhouse with a 103-96 win.

C.J. Miles scored a season-high 30 points for the Pacers in the loss, connecting on 7-of-14 attempts from 3-point range. Luis Scola (12 points and 14 rebounds) and Lavoy Allen (14 points and 13 boards) each recorded a double-double for the Blue-and-Gold.

But the balanced Clippers shot 48 percent to Indiana's 39-percent clip. Crawford had a team-high 18 points and Chris Paul scored 17 and dished out 15 assists. Both Blake Griffin (17 points and 10 rebounds) and DeAndre Jordan (12 points and 19 boards) also had double-doubles.

Noteworthy

  • The Pacers lead the overall series with the Clippers 50-30, including a 16-12 advantage in Los Angeles.
  • The Clippers will attempt to sweep the season series with the Pacers on Wednesday night, something they have not done since the 2004-05 season.
  • Indiana is 6-1 this season when leading after three quarters.
  • The Clippers are 16-2 this season when scoring 100 or more points, and 1-5 when they score fewer than 100.
  • Clippers guard Chris Paul and Pacers forward David West were teammates for six seasons in New Orleans from 2005-11.

Broadcast Information

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Tickets

The Pacers return to Indiana next Tuesday (Dec. 23) to host Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Plenty of good seats still remain for the game. Plus, pay zero fees for any tickets purchased online through December 31, courtesy of FOX Sports Indiana. Find Tickets »