Pacers at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are nearing the point of the season in which they need to start reeling off victories or risk playing out the string over the second half of the campaign. New Orleans dropped six of its last seven contests and is actually hoping that a loss -- a close one to Golden State -- can prompt a turnaround when it hosts the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
The Pelicans put up a ferocious effort against the Warriors before succumbing 113-109 on Tuesday and coach Alvin Gentry wants to see that type of exertion on a more frequent basis. "My message to them was we have to play this well against every team," Gentry told reporters. "Not just the great teams that come in here. We have to play this way against all the teams on the schedule. And if we do that, we'll have some success." New Orleans traditionally experiences issues with Indiana, which has swept the series for five straight seasons while winning 10 consecutive meetings. But the Pacers haven't yet gotten things in-sync under first-year coach Nate McMillan and dropped to .500 with Wednesday's 95-89 road loss against the Miami Heat.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE PACERS (13-13): Indiana is just 3-9 on the road and the loss to Miami began a stretch in which it plays six of eight games away from home. The Pacers haven't won three consecutive games all season but had a chance on Wednesday before falling apart in the fourth quarter while scoring just 10 points. "This is a game that we should have won," disappointed forward Paul George told reporters afterward. "It's frustrating. ... We played OK. We just didn't finish well."
ABOUT THE PELICANS (8-18): The close call against the Warriors prompted both optimism and regret but falling 10 games below .500 with the season nearly one-third over wasn't a good feeling for anyone. "It was definitely frustrating. You want to have those games," New Orleans guard Langston Galloway told reporters. "The crowd was into it and it was just one of those games you want to shock people that doubted us. But we're just trying to get better each and every day, and I think this was a statement game, but we've gotta continue to grow from this and get better." Galloway scored 20 points off the bench against Golden State but his playing time could be on the verge of diminishing with guard Tyreke Evans (knee) on the verge of returning.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pelicans were known as the Hornets the last time they beat the Pacers -- a 108-96 win over April 3, 2011.
2. Indiana SG Monta Ellis (groin) will miss his third straight contest.
3. New Orleans PG Tim Frazier (wrist) is doubtful for Thursday's game.