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Injury-riddled Pacers aim to snap 11-game slide

Mar 17, 2007 - 3:09 PM Atlanta (26-40) at Indiana (29-35) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers' season is sliding away.

Playing their worst basketball of the season, the Pacers aim to snap an 11-game losing streak when they take on the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Indiana has had a tough season on and off the court. After former Pacer Stephen Jackson's legal troubles prior to the season, Indiana was forced into a major overhaul of the squad resulting in a huge eight-player trade with Golden State.

The Pacers also have battled injuries and suspensions to many of their key players, including forward Jermaine O'Neal and point guard Jamaal Tinsley. As a result, Indiana now is trying to avoid tying a franchise-record losing streak. The Pacers have lost 12 in a row twice with the last time being from January 26-February 23, 1989.

On Wednesday, the Pacers dropped their 11th straight, 112-96, to Washington. Not even the return of O'Neal, who had missed the previous three games with a knee injury, could spark Indiana to a victory. O'Neal had 24 points and seven rebounds.

Tinsley missed Wednesday's contest with a sore right foot and hamstring. Forward Jeff Foster also missed the contest with back spasms and Marquis Daniels has missed the last seven games with a sore left knee.

Despite its slide, Indiana still is in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with New Jersey (30-36) and Orlando (30-36).

The Pacers will took to snap out of it when they face the Hawks, who have lost six straight road games, including a 109-88 loss at Boston on Wednesday.

Atlanta had its four-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in five games since All-Star guard Joe Johnson was sidelined with a right calf contusion.

The Hawks have lost both meetings with the Pacers this season.