When: December 18, 2015; 7:00 PM EST
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, IN
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
The good start to the Brooklyn Nets’ recent six-game homestand feels like a distant memory now, as the Nets lost the last three games of it — against the Clippers, Magic and Heat — and now find themselves a season-high 11 games under .500. The back-to-back wins over the Rockets and 76ers are in the rearview mirror as this team tries to right itself, again.
However, as Brooklyn heads out on the road for one game before returning on Sunday to play the Timberwolves, it won’t be an easy assignment tonight, as the Indiana Pacers have been one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams this seasons. Paul George, who is fully recovered from the gruesome leg injury he suffered last summer, has returned to dominance while guys like C.J. Miles and newcomer Monta Ellis (along with George Hill) have contributed nicely.
Indiana has won its last two games overall (three of last four) and hasn’t lost a home game since a 131-123 defeat at the hands of the Warriors back on December 8th. The Pacers have lost just three games at Bankers Life all season and are, per Basketball-Reference.com, in the top-six in the NBA in both adjusted offensive rating and defensive rating. Conversely, the Nets are second-worst (only behind the 76ers) in adjusted offensive rating and a respectable 12th in adjusted defensive rating. Conclusion: Points will be hard to come by for Brooklyn tonight.
Probable lineups
BKN- Jarrett Jack (PG), Bojan Bogdanovic (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
IND- George Hill (PG), Monta Ellis (SG), Paul George (SF), Lavoy Allen (PF), Ian Mahinmi (C)
Final thoughts
After getting mostly crushed in the loss to the Clippers (before a surprising, and futile, late-game comeback attempt), the Nets were destroyed for a full 48 minutes by the Magic. Then, two days later, Brooklyn hung around with the Heat for awhile before fading away late. I have no clue what’s going to happen tonight.
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