 | @ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 41-28 | 28-41 | |
| March 20, 2009 - 7:00PM EST | ||
| Conseco Fieldhouse | ||
| Radio: 1070AM WFNI TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Jason Kidd | PG | T.J. Ford |
| Jose Juan Barea | SG | Jarrett Jack |
| Antoine Wright | SF | Danny Granger |
| Dirk Nowitzki | PF | Troy Murphy |
| Erick Dampier | C | Roy Hibbert |
UPDATE: Don't forget to check out Bruno's Inside the Game LIVE blogcast during the game.
The Indiana Pacers look to snap out of their recent slump when they host the Dallas Mavericks tonight. Suddenly the Pacers are struggling to score points, failing to surpass 90 points in any of their past three games. The offense should get a boost with Troy Murphy expected to return to the lineup to go along with Danny Granger, who despite not playing at full strength still managed to pump in 35 points against Portland on Wednesday.
The Pacers are at their best when there's more balance at the offensive end. Granger scoring 25-28 points with four other teammates in double-figures is usually a winning combination.
The Mavericks are limping along trying to maintain their current spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Josh Howard has missed the last six games with an ankle injury and isn't expected to play in Indy. Center Erick Dampier missed the Mavs' game on Wednesday and is questionable for the game tonight.
Jason Kidd is always a matchup problem and Jason Terry off the bench is always a threat to go off against the Pacers. Rick Carlisle returns to the FIeldhouse for the first time as a coach and should illicit a positive reaction from the home crowd considering the junk he had to coach through.
Here are the Pacers.com Matchups. Marquis Daniels is doubtful for the game and will likely rest his injured wrist.
For the Dallas perspective, check out Mavs Moneyball.
GAMEDAY READING
- Mike Wells reports on Jim O'Brien continuing to make his young players earn their minutes.
- Bruno's Caught in the Web looks back at the March Madness memories of current Pacers.
- Travis Diener tries to set the record straight on the meatball in Hibbert's carry-on bag incident. You'll be stunned to find out Troy Murphy may have embellished a few facts in his plane trip post.
- Tom Ziller digs into the NBA financial situation and finds contrasting messages coming from NBA owners and commissioner David Stern.
Leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.