Thunder at Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are attempting to clinch the Central Division crown when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Indiana has won five straight games as it seeks to wrap up its first division title since the 2003-04 campaign. Oklahoma City defeated the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday before traveling to Indiana, while the Pacers last played Monday. The Thunder are a half-game behind the Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City will claim the top spot in the West if it ties with San Antonio due to owning a better record against Western Conference opponents. The Thunder have won five of their last six games but are beginning a stretch in which four of five are on the road. The Pacers would certainly like to wrap up the division title in front of the home crowd before they head on the road for Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards. “We’d like to get it, but obviously someone has to lose or we have to win on Friday,” center Roy Hibbert told reporters. “Whatever happens, happens.” The Thunder won the lone previous meeting this season, 104-93 on Dec. 9 in Oklahoma City.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports Indiana
ABOUT THE THUNDER (55-20): Reserve guard Derek Fisher provided quite a boost with a season-high five 3-pointers and 17 points in the victory over the Spurs. Fisher was just 9-of-31 from 3-point range in 17 games with the Thunder before a stellar 5-of-7 showing against San Antonio. “We never worry about Fish,” forward Kevin Durant said afterward. “Even though he was missing some shots, we were going to keep going to him and give him confidence. And he came through for us big. On the offensive end, he was hitting shots, spacing the floor and being aggressive. That’s what we need from him.”
ABOUT THE PACERS (48-27): Claiming the division crown is a big deal for Indiana and the first goal for a squad that believes it can make a deep playoff run. “It shows that we are improving,” All-Star forward Paul George told reporters. “Chicago has really dominated it for the last couple of years. It just shows the steps this organization has taken as far as now being, or having the chance, of being a Central Division champion. Again, that is just taking baby steps to where we want to be.” The Pacers are third in the Eastern Conference and just a half-game behind the second-place New York Knicks.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Indiana has won four of its last five home games against the Thunder.
2. Oklahoma City G Kevin Martin scored 24 points in the December matchup.
3. The Pacers are 11-1 when George scores 25 or more points.