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Bobcats-Pacers Preview

Dec 16, 2009 - 4:41 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Charlotte (9-13) at Indiana (8-14), 7:00 p.m. EDT

A month after being traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, Stephen Jackson appears to be fitting right in with his latest NBA team.

Jackson looks to continue his recent success Wednesday night when the Bobcats visit the Indiana Pacers, one of his five former teams.

Unhappy with his situation in Golden State, Jackson was dealt to Charlotte in a four-player deal Nov. 16. Somewhat volatile at times, the 6-foot-8 veteran swingman is averaging 19.6 points and been a model citizen for the Bobcats (10-13), who'll try for a second straight victory after a 94-87 win over New York on Tuesday.

Jackson had 24 points and Gerald Wallace added 21 as Charlotte closed with a 15-2 run to beat the Knicks and win for the third time in five games.

"That was the best win of the year for me," Bobcats coach Larry Brown said of his team's comeback from a 12-point second-half deficit. "I mean we were dead."

Jackson has been a key reason for the team's recent success, averaging 25.0 points in his last four games.

The Bobcats hope Jackson can continue his strong play as they try to avoid a fourth straight road loss. Charlotte is 1-10 and averaging 84.6 points away from home this season. The Bobcats are 3-6 all-time at Indiana.

Jackson, who was involved in the infamous brawl at Detroit while with Indiana during the 2004-05 season, is averaging 16.5 points in six games against the Pacers since they traded him to Golden State during the 2006-07 season. He was held to 10 on 5-of-13 shooting in the Bobcats' 104-88 home win over Indiana on Nov. 22.

Wallace had 11 points and 11 rebounds in that contest against the Pacers, and is averaging 20.7 and 13.3 boards in his last six games overall heading into this contest.

Indiana (8-14) looks to bounce back from a 106-98 loss at Orlando on Monday. The Pacers had won two in a row following a season-high six-game losing streak.

Mike Dunleavy had 26 points after scoring 24 in a 114-113 win at Washington on Saturday. Dunleavy, who's played nine games after missing the first 13 with a knee and hip injury, is averaging 21.7 points in his last three contests.

Though the Pacers shot 47.7 percent from the field Monday, their struggles from 3-point range continued by going 7 of 22 from beyond the arc against Orlando. Indiana ranks near the bottom of the league shooting 31.2 percent from long range.

"We're just (missing), for whatever reason and I can't put my finger on it - it's not because of a lack of practice because we practice shooting constantly," coach Jim O'Brien told the Pacers' official Web site of the team's 3-point struggles.

The Pacers are shooting 27.0 percent from 3-point range while splitting their last four meetings with the Bobcats.

Rookie forward Tyler Hansbrough has averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the last four games while Indiana star Danny Granger remains out with a torn right plantar fascia.