Pacers at Warriors
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers and host Golden State Warriors will need to have short memories when they meet on Friday. The Pacers lost at Sacramento 92-88 on Wednesday when they were outscored 26-8 in the fourth quarter despite holding the Kings to 6-for-25 shooting from the field in the period. The Warriors lost 107-100 at New Jersey on Wednesday when they were outscored 27-17 in the final quarter. Golden State has a far bigger problem, though. Stephen Curry has missed the last eight games after re-aggravating his right ankle injury and isn’t expected to play Friday. All five of Golden State’s victories this season have come against the Eastern Conference, including wins at home over heavyweights Chicago and Miami, and a 3-0 mark against the Central Division. The home team has won the last eight meetings, with each team winning four.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, CS Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE PACERS (9-4): Defense and rebounding have carried Indiana to its fast start. The Pacers are in the top seven in every defensive category, including No. 1 in field goal percentage defense at .405. Indiana is in a favorable part of its schedule as it had three days off prior to its three-game road trip and has a day off in between each game. The Pacers are thin up front without center Jeff Foster, who is expected to miss two weeks with a back injury, and forward Jeff Pendergraph, who suffered a concussion in practice this week.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (5-9): Golden State hopes to start turning its season around as it begins a six-game homestand and plays 10 of its next 12 in Oakland. Nate Robinson has provided a spark in Curry’s absence with averages of 13.3 points, 5.0 assists and 30.0 minutes in eight games since he was signed Jan. 4. Center David Lee (19.3 points, team-leading 10.4 rebounds) has been a force with eight double-doubles in his last 10 games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Indiana is No. 7 in 3-point field goal percentage at .372; Golden State is fourth-worst in 3-point field goal defense at .374.
2. The Pacers are 14-4 against the spread in the last 18 meetings.