 | @ |  |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | 1-3 | |
| January 2, 2012 - 7:30PM EST | ||
| Prudential Center | ||
| Radio: WIBC 93.1FM TV: Fox Sports Indiana | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Darren Collison | PG | Deron Williams |
| Paul George | SG | Sundiata Gaines |
| Danny Granger | SF | Damion James |
| David West | PF | Kris Humphries |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Mehmet Okur |
The Indiana Pacers take on the New Jersey Nets in Newark on Monday night with no valid excuses for poor play. The Pacers had the day off on Sunday after losing in Detroit the night before, while the Nets were in Cleveland on Sunday crashing and burning in the second half and eventually losing to the Cavaliers.
After opening the season with a win over Washington, New Jersey enters tonight's game on a three-game losing streak. Center Brook Lopez has been out with a broken foot leaving newly acquired Mehmet Okur to adjust on the fly in the middle for the Nets.
The Pacers need to utilize their advantage in the front court since the absence of Lopez makes the Nets smaller up front. Of course, the Pacers have been burnt in the past by Okur's long distance shooting while he was with Utah, so checking the big fella behind the arc will also be key.
The other trouble spot for the Pacers is keeping tabs on point guard Deron Williams who will try to use his physical size advantage on Darren Collison. Williams leads the Nets in scoring but has struggled running the offense which showed up last night in Cleveland when he turned the ball over six times.
Here is the Pacers.com preview. For a New Jersey perspective, check out Nets Daily.
Leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.