(SportsNetwork.com) – The Indiana Pacers will try to stem a two-game losing
streak Tuesday night when they welcome fellow Central Division residents, the
Milwaukee Bucks, to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Pacers have lost their last two since opening the season with a victory
over the Philadelphia 76ers. In fact, Milwaukee’s only win this season came
against the Sixers, so these Central rivals have that in common.
Indy dropped a pair of road games since – a home setback to the Memphis
Grizzlies and a road loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Pacers have been without
Paul George and will be for the remainder of the season.
David West, George Hill and CJ Watson have also been sidelined in the early
going. According to head coach Frank Vogel, that won’t change. He ruled all
three out for the entire week.
To further compound the woes, Rodney Stuckey aggravated a foot injury from
the preseason and he won’t suit up this week.
“I hate being injured. I hate not being out competing there with my teammates.
It’s tough,” said Stuckey. “But at the same time, I’ve got to be very cautious
about my body and (make) sure I’m healing right.”
The Pacers fell to the Hawks, the team they needed seven games to get by in
the first round of the playoffs last season, 102-92, Saturday night.
Chris Copeland led six Pacers in double figures with 21 points off the bench.
Roy Hibbert and Donald Sloan each scored 14, while Hibbert pulled down 12
boards. Luis Scola also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Solomon Hill and CJ Miles added 10 apiece.
Both of the Bucks’ losses this season came on the road, most notably, a 108-97
miscue Saturday night at the Washington Wizards. Milwaukee has lost 16 in a
row on the road. Their last victory outside Milwaukee came Feb. 24, 2014 at
Philadelphia.
Brandon Knight had 24 points and Jerryd Bayless scored 20 for the Bucks.
Rookie Jabari Parker was the only other Bucks player in double figures with
13. He added 11 rebounds.
The Bucks committed a whopping 28 turnovers, which led to 25 Washington
points.
“It’s a concern, but more of a point to understand how valuable the ball is
when we get a stop,” Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said after practice Monday.
“The intent is right, trying to get it to a teammate, but we have to connect
the dots.”
The Pacers swept the season series with the Bucks in 2013-14 (4-0) and have
won six straight against Milwaukee. The Bucks have dropped six straight in
Indianapolis.
