AUBURN HILLS, MI - JANUARY 03: Aaron Brooks #00 of the Indiana Pacers plays against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
After their first home loss this season, the Indiana Pacers (4-3) will travel to the Big Apple on Wednesday night for an Eastern Conference showdown with the New York Knicks (2-5).
The Pacers’ two-game winning streak came to an end on Monday night after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers (5-2) 103-93.
Indiana hasn’t outrebounded an opponent since their first game and the task won’t get any easier in New York as the Knicks possess the NBA’s 8th-best rebounder, center Enes Kanter, who is averaging 11.7 boards per game.
“It’s all about bouncing back and trying to recover,” said point guard Darren Collison. “New York is a very good team at their place and we are going there with the mindset of trying to get the ‘W’ — nothing else.”
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Free throw has been a source of frustration for the Pacers this year, as they are last in the Eastern Conference (28th in the league) in free throw percentage and dead last in the league in free throw attempts per game.
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“That’s something we have to continue to work at,” Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said after the game. “We’ll see film again tomorrow, we’re still working on establishing ourselves as a team, what works for us as a team.”
Indiana has been able to get a lot of production from its bench, which leads the NBA in assists and is top five in FG percentage, points, and rebound.
The Pacers enter into this contest with no injuries, while the Knicks are without small forwards Kevin Knox (sprained left ankle), Courtney Lee (neck spasms), and their best player Kristaps Porzingis (left knee).
The banged-up Knicks have struggled to pick up wins behind new head coach David Fizdale, but Monday night’s 115-96 blowout over the Nets disenthralled them from a five-game losing streak.
Seven Knicks finished in double-digit scoring Monday night, as the team dominated the glass rebounding 53 shots against the Nets’ 32.
Veteran small forward Tim Hardaway Jr. has been extremely proficient offensively and leads the Knicks with an impressive 24.4 points per game. Hardaway Jr. dropped 25 against Brooklyn and matched his career-high with eight assists.
The game will air on ESPN, FSIN and MSG at 8:00 p.m. EST.
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