ducks
11-11-2005, 10:25 AM
New Jersey (3-2) at Indiana (3-1)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 7:00 pm EST Fri Nov 11, 2005
TV: YES, FxMW Add to Calendar
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The Indiana Pacers hope to start scoring early, rather than late, when they host the New Jersey Nets on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
The Pacers have fallen behind by double-digits in the second half of their last two games, a 111-109 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday and a 95-90 win Wednesday at home against Miami.
``Everybody's still trying to find their way right now,'' Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal said. ``When teams get in their formats, we're going to be in trouble if we don't get focused. Hopefully, when they get to that point, we're rolling.''
Ron Artest had 24 points to lead the Pacers in their win over Miami. Indiana trailed 71-59 at one point before going on a 17-0 run.
The Pacers and Nets split their series last season, with Indiana clinching a playoff berth with a victory over New Jersey in the last meeting on April 13.
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Indiana had to rally in the second half for a win in that game too, but the comeback was led by Reggie Miller, who is no longer around, having retired in the offseason.
The Nets have added another weapon to their big three of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson in center Nenad Krstic. Krstic had 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting as the Nets beat the Utah Jazz 91-83 on Wednesday night.
``He was big,'' Carter said of the second-year pro from Serbia-Montenegro whose continued development is one of the keys to the Nets' success this season. ``He's shooting with confidence and attacking the rim. He's making himself harder to guard because he's a big guy who has pretty good skills in the post, and he can also step out and shoot the ball.''
The Nets have won three of their last four, with Krstic shooting 51 percent during that span.
New Jersey's only loss in that streak, a 1-point defeat to Miami on Monday, cost Nets coach Lawrence Frank.
Frank was fined $25,000 on Wednesday for failing to leave the court in a timely manner. He was also cited by the league office for verbal abuse of a game official.
Carter is ninth in the NBA in scoring at 25.2 points per game. Last year, in four meetings with Indiana, he averaged almost 30 points per game, including his road season-high of 39 in a Nets win on March 20.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 10): Nets - 1st place, Atlantic Division. Pacers - 2nd place (tied), 1 1/2 GB, Central Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nets - F Jefferson, F Collins, C Krstic, G Carter, G Kidd. Pacers - F Artest, F Austin Croshere, C O'Neal, G Jackson, G Jamaal Tinsley.
TEAM LEADERS: Nets - Carter, 25.2 ppg; Jefferson, 11.2 rpg; Kidd, 7 apg. Pacers - O'Neal, 21.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg; Tinsley, 5.8 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Even, 2-2.
LAST MEETING: April 13, 2005; Pacers 90-86. At Indianapolis, Miller scored seven late points as the Pacers rallied to beat the Nets and clinch their eighth-straight playoff berth.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Nets - 1-1 on the road; Pacers - 1-1 at home.
Updated on Friday, Nov 11, 2005 7:24 am EST
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 7:00 pm EST Fri Nov 11, 2005
TV: YES, FxMW Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The Indiana Pacers hope to start scoring early, rather than late, when they host the New Jersey Nets on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
The Pacers have fallen behind by double-digits in the second half of their last two games, a 111-109 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday and a 95-90 win Wednesday at home against Miami.
``Everybody's still trying to find their way right now,'' Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal said. ``When teams get in their formats, we're going to be in trouble if we don't get focused. Hopefully, when they get to that point, we're rolling.''
Ron Artest had 24 points to lead the Pacers in their win over Miami. Indiana trailed 71-59 at one point before going on a 17-0 run.
The Pacers and Nets split their series last season, with Indiana clinching a playoff berth with a victory over New Jersey in the last meeting on April 13.
ADVERTISEMENT
Indiana had to rally in the second half for a win in that game too, but the comeback was led by Reggie Miller, who is no longer around, having retired in the offseason.
The Nets have added another weapon to their big three of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson in center Nenad Krstic. Krstic had 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting as the Nets beat the Utah Jazz 91-83 on Wednesday night.
``He was big,'' Carter said of the second-year pro from Serbia-Montenegro whose continued development is one of the keys to the Nets' success this season. ``He's shooting with confidence and attacking the rim. He's making himself harder to guard because he's a big guy who has pretty good skills in the post, and he can also step out and shoot the ball.''
The Nets have won three of their last four, with Krstic shooting 51 percent during that span.
New Jersey's only loss in that streak, a 1-point defeat to Miami on Monday, cost Nets coach Lawrence Frank.
Frank was fined $25,000 on Wednesday for failing to leave the court in a timely manner. He was also cited by the league office for verbal abuse of a game official.
Carter is ninth in the NBA in scoring at 25.2 points per game. Last year, in four meetings with Indiana, he averaged almost 30 points per game, including his road season-high of 39 in a Nets win on March 20.
STANDINGS (through Nov. 10): Nets - 1st place, Atlantic Division. Pacers - 2nd place (tied), 1 1/2 GB, Central Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nets - F Jefferson, F Collins, C Krstic, G Carter, G Kidd. Pacers - F Artest, F Austin Croshere, C O'Neal, G Jackson, G Jamaal Tinsley.
TEAM LEADERS: Nets - Carter, 25.2 ppg; Jefferson, 11.2 rpg; Kidd, 7 apg. Pacers - O'Neal, 21.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg; Tinsley, 5.8 apg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Even, 2-2.
LAST MEETING: April 13, 2005; Pacers 90-86. At Indianapolis, Miller scored seven late points as the Pacers rallied to beat the Nets and clinch their eighth-straight playoff berth.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Nets - 1-1 on the road; Pacers - 1-1 at home.
Updated on Friday, Nov 11, 2005 7:24 am EST