Back-to-back… Pacers visit Portland at the Moda Center
One night removed from a 103-91 win over the Clips, the Indiana Pacers travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers, who are on a two-game loss streak.
WHO: Indiana Pacers (12-5) @ Portland Trail Blazers (7-12)
WHEN: Tonight, 10 pm ET / 9 pm CT
WHERE: Moda Center (Portland, OR)
TV: FSI
RADIO: 1070 the Fan
STREAM: FSGO
The Pacers
Fans of the Blue & Gold probably don’t need a reminder that the team is hot now… but, for the sake of praise, this team is hot.
Paul George piled up his seventh 30-point performance last night against the Clippers and Indiana keeps rolling, now on a six-game win streak. George is reaching new heights as a Pacer and continues to prove his doubters wrong with his play through seventeen games.
It’s been an interesting run since the season started. Indiana went 0-3 in October, but hadn’t gone 0-4 in over 20 years. They managed to avoid 0-4 by going on a three-game run against Detroit, Boston, and Miami. Then a loss to Cleveland, followed by two wins over Boston (again) and the T’Wolves. That streak was momentarily broken up by a one-point loss in Chicago, but Indiana hasn’t lost since November 16th and are just two games away from facing the (potentially still) undefeated Golden State Warriors.
However, tonight is about beating the Blazers, who are a much different team than when Indy met up with them last. No LaMarcus Aldridge, no Nicolas Batum, and a lot of D-Lillard.
The Blazers
Portland has also had a year of streaks. After winning opening night, they lost two straight, won three straight, lost seven straight, then went 3-3 in their last six.
Dominated by their guard play, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum lead the way in scoring for the hosts. Lillard has been at all-star level averaging about 24/4/7, while McCollum chips in just over 19 a game. Outside of these two, though, the options aren’t great. Sure, the bigs of Aminu and Mason Plumlee contribute about as much as you would expect on that roster, but if the Portland of last was gold, this year’s Blazer team is bronze at most.
Next: Pacers use steady performance to beat Clippers
It is the second night of a back-to-back, so if the Pacers can ease their way into a healthy fourth quarter lead it’s possible they could take a page out of the Pop book and rest the starters. However, Portland has a good amount of scrap in them and won’t want Indy to stroll out with an easy W. Much to the chagrin of the Blazers, though, this is Paul George’s world – we’re just living in it.
Tipoff for tonight set for 10 pm ET.