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Pacers, Nets tangle at the Rock

Feb 6, 2011 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers shoot for their sixth straight win over the New Jersey Nets today at the Prudential Center.

Indiana is unbeaten in the last five meetings with the Nets, who dropped a 124-92 decision on Jan. 28 at Conseco Fieldhouse. Mike Dunleavy netted 30 points in that one for the Pacers, who have won eight of the last nine meetings between the two clubs. Indiana has won three straight as the visitor in this series.

The Pacers have won three in a row overall and four of five games, including Friday's 100-87 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Danny Granger had 25 points and nine rebounds, Roy Hibbert added 15 points and Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 in a winning effort.

"This is a new team, a new beginning," said Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel, who is 3-0 at the helm. "The fans in Indiana should be excited. This is going to be a special end of the year."

Indiana had a 58-39 advantage on the glass and will also visit Miami on the quick road trip. It is 7-16 away from Indy this season.

Meanwhile, the Nets will begin a two-game homestand Sunday versus the Pacers and Hornets, and are 12-12 in Newark, NJ this season.

The Nets have lost two in a row and four of five games, and are coming off Friday's 92-82 setback in Detroit. Anthony Morrow recorded 22 points and Brook Lopez provided 16 for New Jersey, losers in 12 straight on the road.

"We just didn't have any energy in the first and third quarters tonight and that is what it was," Lopez said. "It seems to happen a lot (slow starts), we got lucky that we were covered against Cleveland and another recent game. But it happens a lot and those games we were fortunate to recover, but not tonight. We can't always rely on that we have to get better."

The Nets are 5-2 in their last seven home games.