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Wolves and Pacers square off in Indy

Feb 11, 2011 - 4:18 PM (Sports Network) - Suddenly, the Indiana Pacers are in contention for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference thanks to revived play under interim head coach Frank Vogel.

Vogel will guide the Pacers tonight versus the Minnesota Timberwolves in the finale of a short two-game homestand at Conseco Fieldhouse. He improved to 5-1 since taking over for Jim O'Brien and saw his team pull out a 104-103 victory versus the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday in Indy.

Josh McRoberts's tip-in with 1:21 to go in the game proved to be the difference, while Roy Hibbert collected 29 points and 10 boards for the Pacers, who got 25 points from Danny Granger. Darren Collison had 15 points in a winning effort.

"A great effort by our basketball team after getting in late and playing an emotional game in Miami," Vogel said.

Indiana has won four straight as the host and is 14-11 at home. Hibbert has 16 double-doubles this season.

Minnesota looks to close out a perfect three-game road trip tonight and is only 4-23 away from the Twin Cities this season. After defeating the Hornets in the Big Easy, the Timberwolves added a 112-108 victory in Houston on Tuesday at the Toyota Center.

Kevin Love recorded his 38th consecutive double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves, who won for just the third time in 12 attempts and halted a 13-game slide to the Rockets. Wayne Ellington finished with 18 points and Jonny Flynn posted 15 in a winning effort.

"Played hard, played together, executing on the defensive end, everybody being as one," Ellington said. "We don't have guys out there worrying about themselves. Everybody's worrying about the team, how we're doing, and I think it's been paying off for us."

The Timberwolves shot 51 percent and had a 51-31 advantage on the glass. On the injury front, forward Michael Beasley (ankle) and center Darko Milicic (hip) are both listed as doubtful for tonight. Guard Luke Ridnour is questionable due to personal reasons.

Love's 38th consecutive double-double broke Kevin Garnett's club record and marked the longest streak in the NBA since Moses Malone turned the trick 44 times in a row for Philadelphia in 1982-83. Love will make his All-Star Game debut on Feb. 20 at Staples Center and is the fifth player in franchise history to be chosen as an All-Star. Garnett was the last in 2007.

Minnesota and Indiana are meeting for the first time since splitting a home- and-home series a year ago, with each team prevailing as the host. These two teams have split the previous 12 matchups. The Pacers, however, have won 13 of the last 16 games at home.