Friday, December 7th at 7:00 PM EST at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Game Preview: IND vs DEN
by Scott Agness | December 5, 2012 | Updated: December 7, 2012, 10:46 AM
Matchup
The Denver Nuggets face the Indiana Pacers in the second game of their first big road trip of the season, playing in five different cities. The Nuggets have had three three-game losing streaks in the young season and have lost their last four road games.
In the offseason, Denver drafted Evan Fournier out of France (20th) and Baylor’s Quincy Miller (38th), signed Anthony Randolph and acquired Andre Iguodala in the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.
Denari & Montieth: All Things Pacers 121221
Eleven players returned from last year’s squad, but the Nuggets remain young. They are the third-youngest team in the league. All but three players are under the age of 26. They have a well-balanced offensive attack, with six guys averaging double-figure numbers. Danilo Gallinari tops the team with 15.5 points per game while Kenneth Faried is averaging a double-double (13.2 points, 10.5 rebounds) in just his second season.
The Nuggets have lost four of their last five contests. They average over 100 points per game and have gone over the century mark in each of their last seven games. Conversely, the Pacers have only allowed four teams to score in triple digits. The Nuggets also lead the league in points in the paint and offensive rebounds, scoring half their points in the lane and over 18 points a game on second-chance opportunities.
Pacers Blogs: What They're Saying »
Indiana’s backcourt will be challenged with Ty Lawson and Iguodala, and the whole team must block out against another quality rebounding team. The Pacers will try to play to their tempo and defend well enough to keep the visitors under the 90-point range.
Probable Starters
Pacers
- C – Roy Hibbert | All-Star Voting »
- F – David West | All-Star Voting »
- F – Paul George | All-Star Voting »
- G – Lance Stephenson
- G – George Hill | All-Star Voting »
Nuggets
- C – Kosta Koufos
- F – Kenneth Faried
- F – Danilo Gallinari
- G – Andre Iguodala
- G – Ty Lawson
Injury Update
Pacers: Danny Granger (out, left knee)
Nuggets: Wilson Chandler (out, left hip), Julyan Stone (out, right hip)
Noteworthy
- Denver has won the last two meetings and 12 of the last 15.
- Paul George has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games for the first time this year.
- Roy Hibbert has blocked at least two shots in 13 consecutive games.
- Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson scored 32 points and had five steals, both season-highs, plus seven assists in a loss Wednesday in Atlanta.
- Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson were teammates at North Carolina and won the NCAA Championship in 2009.
Last Meeting
In their only meeting last season, Denver won in Indianapolis, 113-109. It was one of five Pacers losses in a row during a stretch in February.
Point guard Ty Lawson scored a game-high 27 points and Arron Affalo, who’s no longer with the team, chipped in 23 for the Nuggets. They trailed by as many as 13 but held off a late rally by the Pacers. Emotions were high, as the Nuggets received three technical fouls during the game.
Danny Granger scored 26 points, David West had 22 and Paul George added 15. George Hill didn’t dress due to a sprained left ankle. Despite shooting 53 percent from the floor, the Pacers turned it over 20 times and allowed the Nuggets to score over half their points in the paint (62).
Broadcast Information | Find Local Listings »
TV: FOX Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Brooke Olzendam (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 1070 The Fan, Pacers Radio Network – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Kevin Lee (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
Good seats are available for Friday's game and includes the Cash 5 Promotion with Hoosier Lottery. Buy Tickets »
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Single-game tickets through January 31, 2013 are now on sale
