Pacers at Bobcats
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers have rebounded from a five-game losing streak by ripping off three straight victories. The recent hot stretch has come at the expense of three teams that are a collective 55 games under .500, and another soft opponent awaits when Indiana visits the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night in their final game before the All-Star break. The Pacers have won eight consecutive meetings with the Bobcats, including a 108-73 thrashing on Sunday night in Indiana.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSIN (Indiana)
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (4-27): Charlotte hasn’t played since absorbing the beating at Indiana. That loss came two days after the Bobcats had snapped a franchise-record 16-game losing streak at Toronto, but the momentum was apparently held up at the border by customs officials. With leading scorer Gerald Henderson (hamstring) sidelined, rookie point guard Kemba Walker has been one of the few bright spots during the disastrous stretch. He is averaging 18 points in his last five games.
ABOUT THE PACERS (20-12): Center Roy Hibbert appears bent on showing that he is worthy of his first All-Star selection. Hibbert scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Indiana’s overtime win against New Orleans on Tuesday night. It was the third straight double-double for Hibbert, who dominated the Bobcats with 18 points and 14 rebounds Sunday. Guard Paul George showed signs of emerging from his funk with 20 points, his highest output since Feb. 3.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Indiana has beaten the Bobcats by an average of 26-plus points in the last three meetings, including 22- and 35-point routs this season.
2. Charlotte has lost seven games this season by at least 30 points.