Pacers at Nets
THE STORY: The Indiana Pacers travel to New Jersey for the fourth and final meeting with the Nets on Wednesday. Indiana leads the season series 3-0 and is seeking an 11th consecutive victory over New Jersey. The Pacers have won four of five overall, including a 105-90 victory over the Southeast Division-leading Miami Heat on Monday. The Nets have lost six of their last seven and are dead last in the Atlantic Division.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN (Indiana), YES (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE PACERS (29-19): The Pacers are off to their best start since going 35-13 in the first 48 contests of 2003-04. The acquisition of guard Leandro Barbosa has given the Pacers a potent offensive option off the bench. Barbosa poured in 14 points in just over 14 minutes against the Heat on Monday. The Pacers are 14-12 away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse so far. Indiana is just three road wins short of ensuring itself a winning record away from home for the first time in eight years, and just the fourth time in its NBA history.
ABOUT THE NETS (16-35): Nets coach Avery Johnson called out the players who were on the court at the end of Monday's 105-84 loss to the Utah Jazz for being "unprofessional'' in the way they finished the game. Johnson wasn’t pleased with the lack of effort, energy, and competitive spirit from his squad."I talked to some of our veteran players about it privately, and they agreed with my summary of last night and our young players, they’re watching and looking and I don’t want them to get into any of these bad habits,” Johnson said Tuesday. After Wednesday’s contest with the Pacers, New Jersey hits the road for a four-game west coast trip.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Pacers have taken 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Nets and 10 in a row by an average of 13.4 points.
2. The Nets are 3-30 when outrebounded by opponents and are 3-11 vs. Central foes.
3. New Jersey guard Anthony Morrow (shoulder) is questionable.