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Game Preview: Pacers at Clippers

Last Updated: Dec. 3 at 12:30 PM

Matchup

Last Sunday, the Pacers put together their most impressive performance of the season, dominating the Clippers in a 91-70 win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse despite playing without All-Star forward Paul George and two key reserves.

Just a week later, the two teams will meet again on the West Coast on Sunday, when the Pacers (9-10) visit the Staples Center for the second and final regular season meeting with the Clippers (16-5).

Even without George, a three-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, the Blue & Gold stifled the Clippers' high-octane offense in last week's win. L.A. ranks fourth in the NBA in offensive rating according to NBA.com/Stats, but shot just 31.4 percent from the field and went 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range against the Pacers. The Clips also committed 20 turnovers, including 11 in the first quarter, and their 70 total points were their lowest ever in three-plus seasons under head coach Doc Rivers (they'd previously never been held under 80 points with Rivers as the coach).

But the Pacers couldn't duplicate that defensive effort on Wednesday night in Portland. The Pacers allowed the Blazers to shoot 54.3 percent from the field in a 131-109 loss to tip off their five-game road trip. Indiana gave up 58 points in the paint on the night and allowed 42 points in the second quarter, the second time this season a Pacers opponent has scored over 40 points in a single quarter.

Last week's loss came in the middle of a surprising three-game skid from Los Angeles.

The Clippers got off to as good a start as any team in the NBA, going 14-2 through their first 16 games, and seemed poised to challenge the Warriors at the top of the Western Conference. But the Clips stumbled badly last week, losing by 11 points at Detroit on Nov. 25, getting blown out two days later in Indiana, and then falling in double overtime in Brooklyn on Tuesday night to the Nets, owners of the second-worst record in the East. That last loss was marred even more by Rivers losing his cool with the referees at a crucial juncture, earning an ejection and a $15,000 fine.

The Clippers, however, seemed to get back on track on Thursday night, when they went into Cleveland and blew out the defending NBA champion Cavaliers, 113-94. They closed out a six-game road trip with another win on Friday night in New Orleans before returning home. They will no doubt have revenge on their minds against Indiana after what happened last weekend at The Fieldhouse.

But the Pacers may be getting some reinforcements for Sunday's rematch. George, the team's leading scorer, may return to the lineup after sitting out three straight games and six of the last seven contests with a sprained ankle. Sixth man C.J. Miles, currently leading the NBA in 3-point percentage at .484, could also be back on the court after missing the last six games with a knee injury. Reserve center Kevin Seraphin could also return from a sore knee.

With three days' rest in between games, now would be the perfect opportunity to work out those players over a few days of practice and see how their bodies respond. Miles actually practiced with the team on Tuesday before the game in Portland, though George and Seraphin did not.

Projected Starters

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis

Glenn Robinson III

Glenn Robinson III

Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young

Myles Turner

Myles Turner

Chris Paul

Chris Paul

J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick

Luc Mbah a Moute

Luc Mbah a Moute

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Glenn Robinson III, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Clippers: PG - Chris Paul, SG - J.J. Redick, SF - Luc Mbah a Moute, PF - Blake Griffin, C - DeAndre Jordan

Injury Report

Pacers: Paul George - questionable (sore left ankle), C.J. Miles - questionable (sore left knee), Kevin Seraphin - questionable (sore left knee)

Clippers: Brice Johnson - out (acute herniated disc, lower back)

Last Meeting

November 27, 2016: Even without Paul George, the Pacers put together a dominant defensive performance in their 91-70 win over the Clippers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana held the Clippers to 20 points or less in all four quarters and limited Los Angeles to just 12 points over the final 12 minutes.

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Glenn Robinson III also scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Al Jefferson added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 16 points and nine rebounds. Chris Paul had 13 points, but was just 3-for-11 from the field and committed four turnovers.

Noteworthy

  • The Pacers are 52-32 all-time against the Clippers and 17-13 in games played in Los Angeles.
  • Indiana has beaten the Clippers in three of their last four meetings at the Staples Center, including a 103-91 win last season.
  • The Pacers are 2-0 so far this season in games played on a Sunday. They won in overtime in Oklahoma City on Nov. 20, then knocked off the Clippers in Indianapolis last weekend.

Tickets

The Pacers return home on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they will host the Portland Trail Blazers at 7:00 PM ET. Saturday's game is also the second "Decade Game" of the season, and we'll be honoring Pacers players and staffers from the 1970s during the game. All fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead of either Hall of Famer Mel Daniels or Pacers legend George McGinnis. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Austin Croshere (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Away Game Night Special

Pacers Elf on the Shelf - $15. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »