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Game Preview: Pacers at Thunder

Last Updated: Feb. 24 at 9:30 AM

Matchup

The Pacers (23-33) will look for their fourth straight win on Tuesday night when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (31-25). The Thunder are the only NBA team Indiana has yet to play so far this season.

For the second straight game, the Pacers will be playing a Western Conference powerhouse missing an All-Star centerpiece. Golden State point guard Stephen Curry was a late scratch from Sunday's game and the Blue & Gold pulled out a 104-98 win over the Curry-less Warriors. The Thunder will face Indiana without reigning league MVP Kevin Durant, who underwent a minor procedure on his surgically repaired right foot over the weekend.

Even without Durant, Oklahoma City boasts plenty of firepower. Durant's running mate Russell Westbrook is having a phenomenal season, ranking second in the league in scoring (26.1 points per game) and fifth in assists (8.0 per contest). Westbrook had 21 points, 17 assists, and eight rebounds on Sunday to lead the Durant-less Thunder to a 119-94 romp over Denver.

Beyond their core of Durant, Westbrook, and shot-blocking big man Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City has significantly overhauled its supporting cast. The Thunder acquired mercurial shooting guard Dion Waiters from Cleveland in January, then made a pair of moves at last Thursday's trade deadline. The Thunder shipped away malcontent guard Reggie Jackson and veteran center Kendrick Perkins, getting back three valuable role players in return. 22-year-old Enes Kanter came over from Utah and has already stepped into the starting center role. Kyle Singler and former Pacers guard D.J. Augustin joined the team from Detroit, giving the Thunder a quality wing player and backup point guard.

While the Thunder appear to be gearing up for another playoff run, Indiana is making its own push to get into the postseason for the fifth straight season. After winning six of their last seven games, the Pacers find themselves in a three-way tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, just a game back of Brooklyn and a game and a half back of Miami for the final two playoff spots.

The key to the Pacers' recent success has been a more consistent offensive attack. They have topped 100 points in eight of their last 11 contests, winning all eight of those games. Rodney Stuckey's recent shift into a sixth man role has solidified the second unit, which has topped 60 points in consecutive games.

Projected Starters

George Hill

George Hill

C.J. Miles

C.J. Miles

Solomon Hill

Solomon Hill

David West

David West

Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook

Andre Roberson

Andre Roberson

Kyle Singler

Kyle Singler

Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka

Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Solomon Hill, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
Thunder: PG - Russell Westbrook, SG - Andre Roberston, SF - Kyle Singler, PF - Serge Ibaka, C - Enes Kanter

Injury Report

Pacers: Paul George - out (fractured right leg)

Thunder: Steven Adams - out (fourth metacarpal fracture in right hand), Kevin Durant - out (foot soreness)

Last Meeting

April 13, 2014: Lance Stephenson's triple-double propelled the Pacers to a 102-97 win over Oklahoma City at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Stephenson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists to record his fifth and final triple-double of the 2013-14 season, the most in the NBA.

Five other Pacers players scored in double figures on the night as Indiana shot 53 percent from the field. David West had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, Paul George scored 20 and grabbed 12 rebounds, and C.J. Watson scored 20 points off the bench.

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting. Russell Westbrook added 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists for OKC.

Noteworthy

  • The Pacers have lost four straight road games against the Thunder. Their only victory ever against the team in Oklahoma City came on April 5, 2009.
  • Including the period before the Thunder moved to OKC from Seattle, the Pacers trail the overall series with the Sonics/Thunder franchise, 46-33.
  • Pacers head coach Frank Vogel has 190 career wins since taking over the reins of the team in 2011. Vogel is currently tied with Larry Brown (1993-97) for the most wins by a Pacers head coach in franchise history.

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

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), Pat Boylan (studio host)