Game Preview: Pacers vs Nuggets

Last Updated: Nov. 14 at 11:30 a.m.

The Pacers (3-6) host the Denver Nuggets (1-6) on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It will be the first night of a back-to-back, with Indiana scheduled to visit Chicago on Saturday.

Since beating Detroit in their season opener, Denver has dropped six straight games by an average margin of 13.3 points per game.

The injury-riddled Pacers also lost six in a row after an Opening Night win. But Indiana has since bounced back, picking up two straight victories this week, beating Utah on Monday night and winning in Miami on Wednesday.

For the Pacers, playing a reeling Denver team at home presents a golden opportunity for Indiana to string together a third consecutive win. But with so many players still out due to injuries, the Pacers will need another focused effort to come away with a victory.

That starts on the defensive end. In their two recent wins, the Blue-and-Gold have held their opponents to an average of 80.5 points per game. But the Nuggets have plenty of offensive weapons. Despite their recent skid, Denver has surpassed 100 points in five straight contests.

The Nuggets' big move over the offseason was trading for Arron Afflalo, sending Evan Fournier and a second-round pick to Orlando in exchange for the 29-year-old shooting guard's services. Afflalo, who previously spent three years in Denver, was coming off a career year. He averaged 18.2 points and shot .459 from the field and .427 from 3-point range for the Magic last season. But he hasn't enjoyed the same success this year, averaging just 9.9 points and shooting .379/.261.

Aside from Afflalo, the biggest concerns for the Pacers on Friday will be point guard Ty Lawson and power forward Kenneth Faried. Lawson remains arguably the fastest player in the league and is averaging a team-best 16.7 points and 7.5 assists. Faried is a monster on the boards and is coming off a very successful summer where he played a key role in USA Basketball winning a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup. Faried is averaging 11.4 points and 8 rebounds (3.3 on the offensive glass).

The Pacers awill get back the services of one player on Friday night. C.J. Miles has missed the past four games with migraine symptoms, but head coach Frank Vogel said at Friday morning's shootaround that Miles would play against the Nuggets. Miles did live work for a little under an hour on Thursday's practice, including some two-on-two drills. Vogel said Miles won't be on any kind of minutes restriction, but the team will monitor his conditioning levels since he has sat out for nearly a week.

Donald Sloan

Solomon Hill

Chris Copeland

Luis Scola

Roy Hibbert

Ty Lawson

Arron Afflalo

Wilson Chandler

Kenneth Faried

Timofey Mozgov

Pacers: PG - Donald Sloan, SG - Solomon Hill, SF - Chris Copeland, PF - Luis Scola, C - Roy Hibbert
Nuggets: PG - Ty Lawson, SG - Arron Afflalo, SF - Wilson Chandler, PF - Kenneth Faried, C - Timofey Mozgov

Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula), George Hill - out (left knee contusion), C.J. Watson - out (bruised right foot), David West - out (sprained right ankle), Rodney Stuckey - out (sore left foot), C.J. Miles - probable (migraine symptoms)
Nuggets: Ty Lawson – probable (left ankle soreness), Randy Foye – probable (right knee contusion), Gary Harris – probable (right SIJ contusion in back), Nate Robinson – probable (left hamstring strain)

As of November 13th, Donald Sloan has traveled a distance of 22.2 miles, the 3rd most in the NBA!

"The mood is always a little more uplifting when you win, but we can't let that turn into complacency. We've got to stay greedy and come in and get a win (against Denver)." -Pacers head coach Frank Vogel

"It's still a learning process. We're definitely getting better every game, I think you can see that. We're learning each other and learning to be more comfortable on the floor in roles that we haven't had in recent years." -Pacers forward Chris Copeland on the team's growth

"He's a nightmare in all phases — (not just) in the open court but in the half court pick-and-roll game as well. His speed is really unparalleled and our point guards are going to have a tall task keeping him in front of them and our help's got to be early, too." -Vogel on Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson

"You've got to find a way to score points, but being able to hold teams to low shooting percentages and low scoring totals helps you out completely." -Pacers guard C.J. Miles on the importance of having a strong defense

"(Brian Shaw is) one of my favorite people that I've ever worked with, that I've ever met. Very, very dear friend and I wish him well for every game that he's not playing against the Pacers." -Vogel on Shaw, the Nuggets head coach and former associate head coach with the Pacers

"I think everybody's okay with that guy having his night. And I think guys really try to get that guy the ball and get him a little more involved a little more than (they) normally would be, just because they do have it going. The unselfishness is pretty high." -Pacers point guard Donald Sloan on riding the player with the hot hand

February 2, 2014: The Pacers cruised to a 119-80 win over the Nuggets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The 29-point margin of victory was Indiana's largest for the entire 2013-14 season.

David West led six Pacers players in double figures with 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting. Roy Hibbert had a double-double (14 points and 12 boards). All 13 active Pacers players played at least seven minutes and scored in the contest.

Wilson Chandler led Denver with 17 points. J.J. Hickson added 12 points and eight rebounds.

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