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Improved Pacers face off with struggling Bucks

Dec 8, 2010 - 4:04 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Central Division rivals clash tonight at the Bradley Center, where the Milwaukee Bucks will play host to the Indiana Pacers.

Since a season-high three-game winning streak in mid-November, Milwaukee has lost eight of its last 10 games and suffered an 88-78 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. Corey Maggette had a team-best 20 points for the Bucks, who are 1-1 so far on a four-game homestand.

Brandon Jennings had 13 points and Andrew Bogut ended with 11 and 13 boards in a losing cause. The Bucks are 5-5 as the host this season.

"We had difficulties all night," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "We had [opportunities], we just couldn't get them to go down."

Milwaukee will also host Houston on the residency. Bucks forward Drew Gooden is questionable for tonight's game with a case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Gooden, who is averaging 10.6 points, has missed two straight and four of his last five games.

The Pacers have won five of their last eight games and ended a two-game slide with Monday's 124-100 loss versus the Toronto Raptors.

Danny Granger had 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Brandon Rush scored a game-best 26 points off the bench, including six of Indiana's 13 three-pointers. Darren Collison scored 17 points for the Pacers, who got 13 points, six rebounds and six assists from Roy Hibbert.

"I thought we played a pretty fair basketball game," said Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien. "We were very focused on our tempo and our plan. That's a very positive victory against a team right behind us in the standings."

Collison is questionable for tonight with a leg issue.

Milwaukee defeated Indiana, 94-90, on Nov. 5 this season in Indy and has won five straight, six of seven and seven of the past nine meetings. The Pacers are winless in their last four trips to the Land of Cheese.