Wizards at Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are struggling with top scorer Danny Granger sidelined due to a knee injury. A home date with the winless Washington Wizards should put them back in the win column. The Pacers were expected to take another step forward after a deep run last season but have struggled to find offense without Granger. The Wizards rebuilt their roster over the summer but their record looks familiar. Washington will push for its first win Saturday night.
Washington faded late on Friday and ended up falling to the Milwaukee Bucks. Searching for silver linings, the Wizards could look to the 91 points they managed in the contest - their highest total in regulation through the first four games. The Pacers are no strangers to offensive problems. Indiana averaged 86.3 points in dropping its last three games and could not get the basket it needed down the stretch in Friday’s 96-94 setback at Minnesota.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSMA (Washington), FSIN (Indiana)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (0-4): Washington took the Boston Celtics to overtime on Wednesday but failed to build on that momentum. All five starters reached double figures in the 101-91 loss to Milwaukee, but the bench totaled 20 points and A.J. Price struggled at the point. The Wizards are playing without John Wall due to a left knee injury, and Price has taken over his spot at the top of the offense. The former Pacers reserve is shooting just 31 percent from the floor and has committed nine turnovers in the last two contests. Rookie Bradley Beal has reached double figures in two straight games to lead the offense.
ABOUT THE PACERS (2-4): Indiana is capable of dominating on the inside with Roy Hibbert and David West but has no one to break down the defense from the outside with Granger on the shelf for the next three months. Paul George has struggled with his shot and Hibbert has reached double figures in only half of the Pacers’ six games. George Hill tried to carry the team with 29 points on Friday, but Indiana allowed 54 points in the second half and gave up the go-ahead basket with 0.8 seconds left.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. George has averaged 10.9 points on 51.7 percent shooting in seven career games against the Wizards.
2. Washington began last season 0-8 and ended up with a 20-46 record - the second-worst mark in the NBA.
3. Indiana has taken six straight in the series, including a 109-96 win in the final meeting last season.