Hornets at Pacers
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers are coming off their largest winning
margin in nine seasons and look to stretch their winning streak to three
games when they host the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday. Indiana routed
the Charlotte Bobcats 108-73 on Sunday and the 35-point victory was the
franchise’s best since a 51-point victory over the Chicago Bulls during
the 2002-03 campaign. New Orleans had a season-best three-game winning
streak snapped by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. The Hornets are
4-10 on the road.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Cox Sports (Hornets), FS Indiana (Pacers)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (7-24):
Second-year point guard Greivis Vasquez has taken advantage of an
opportunity to start and is in the midst of a productive month. Vasquez
has started eight of New Orleans’ 10 games in February and is averaging
12.9 points with seven double-digit games. He had 15 points in Monday’s
loss to Oklahoma City and has two 20-point outings during the stretch.
Vasquez became the starter when Jarrett Jack injured a knee. Jack scored
18 points off the bench against the Thunder.
ABOUT THE PACERS (19-12): Indiana is on the verge of getting back
guard George Hill, who has missed the last 11 games with a chip fracture
in his left ankle. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said he expects Hill to
push both point guard Darren Collison and shooting guard Paul George and
possibly supplant one of them as a starter. Hill was acquired from the
San Antonio Spurs in the off-season and averaged 9.3 points prior to the
injury.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. New Orleans has won six of the past seven meetings.
2.
Indiana forward David West is playing against the Hornets for the first
time after being a two-time All-Star in eight seasons with New Orleans.
3. New Orleans center Emeka Okafor (knee) will miss his fifth consecutive contest.