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Spurs seek to avert third straight loss, face sliding Pacers

Mar 21, 2007 - 2:50 PM Indiana (30-36) at San Antonio (46-20) 8:00 pm EDT

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Spurs haven't fared well against some of the league's worst teams. Here come the sinking Indiana Pacers.

The Spurs aim to avoid their third straight loss against an inferior opponent when they take on the Pacers, who have dropped 12 of their last 13 games and may be without star forward Jermaine O'Neal.

San Antonio suffered back-to-back losses to lowly Milwaukee and Boston. The Bucks snapped the Spurs' season-high 13-game winning streak last Thursday. Two nights later, the Celtics won in San Antonio for the first time since 1990.

The Spurs now will look to avoid matching their season-worst three-game skid from January 2-5.

Averaging 20.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, All-Star forward Tim Duncan has had another stellar season for San Antonio. He also has dominated the Pacers over the years, averaging 26.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in his last four home games against Indiana.

San Antonio has won seven of the last eight meetings. The Spurs' last home loss to the Pacers came on January 4, 2002, when they played at the Alamodome.

O'Neal, who scored 25 points in Indiana's 86-76 loss to Houston on Tuesday, took a hard fall after being fouled by Rockets forward Shane Battier in the fourth quarter. He may not play on Wednesday.

The All-Star forward has been injury-plagued this season, battling ankle, hamstring and knee ailments, as well as bouts with the flu - causing him to miss nine games.

The Pacers are in a virtual three-way tie with New Jersey (31-37) and Orlando (31-37) for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.