Last Updated: Feb. 11 at 6:45 PM
Matchup
In their final game before the All-Star break, the Pacers (20-33) head down to New Orleans for their final regular season meeting with the Pelicans (27-25). Indiana defeated the Pels on Dec. 23 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 96-84.
The Pacers put together another strong performance on Monday night, taking a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter against the defending champion Spurs before San Antonio rallied for a 95-93 win.
Despite Monday's end result, it has been a very good week for the Blue & Gold, who have won three out of four games, snapping Cleveland's 12-game winning streak and picking up a couple pivotal victories over fellow playoff contenders Detroit and Charlotte. The key to the Pacers' success has been a consistent offensive attack. Indiana has posted an offensive rating of 110.7 while shooting 47.6 percent from the field since Feb. 4, both of which rank fourth in the NBA over that span.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is engaged in a three-headed dog fight for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Despite being two games over .500, the Pelicans are currently on the outside looking in, tied with Oklahoma City for ninth place and a game and a half back of Phoenix. Though they might not make the playoffs, New Orleans has proven they can play with any team in the league — in fact, they were the ones that finally snapped Atlanta's 19-game winning streak back on Feb. 2.
PHOTO GALLERY: Scouting the Pelicans »
Pelicans forward Anthony Davis is one of the frontrunners for MVP consideration, but the team announced hours before Wednesday's game that Davis will not play against the Pacers. The 21-year-old phenom sprained his right shoulder on Saturday and sat out Monday's loss to Utah. Davis is already arguably the best two-way forward in the league, ranking fourth in the NBA in scoring (24.5 points per game) and first in blocks (2.7 per contest).
Projected Starters
George Hill
Rodney Stuckey
C.J. Miles
David West
Roy Hibbert
Tyreke Evans
Eric Gordon
Dante Cunningham
Alexis Ajinca
Omer Asik
Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Rodney Stuckey, SF - C.J. Miles, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
Pelicans: PG - Tyreke Evans, SG - Eric Gordon, SF - Dante Cunningham, PF - Alexis Ajinca, C - Omer Asik
Injury Report
Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula), Lavoy Allen - out (sore right knee), Ian Mahinmi - probable (sprained right ankle)
Pelicans: Ryan Anderson - out (right elbow soreness), Jrue Holiday - out (stress reaction, lower right leg), Anthony Davis - out (right shoulder sprain)
Last Meeting
December 23, 2014: George Hill scored 15 points in his regular season debut to lead Indiana to a 96-84 victory over the Pelicans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Hill was 5-for-8 from the field and 2-for-3 from 3-point range. The Pacers point guard also tallied four rebounds and three assists. Five other players scored in double figures for Indiana and three more combined to add an additional 20 points.
Pelicans All-NBA forward Anthony Davis scored a game-high 21 points, but needed 18 shots to do so. Jrue Holiday added 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists for New Orleans. Tyreke Evans recorded his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 11 boards.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won seven straight regular season games over New Orleans, including three straight on the road. New Orleans last defeated Indiana on April 3, 2011 in The Big Easy.
- Indiana leads the overall series with New Orleans 18-11, including a 7-5 advantage on the road.
- Pacers forward David West, who played for New Orleans from 2003-11, needs to make four field goals to reach 5,000 field goals made in his career.
- Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon, who starred at North Central High School and played one year at Indiana University, is averaging 12.8 points and 3.8 assists this season while shooting a career-best 45.1 percent from 3-point range.
Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »
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)