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Pacers look to end five-game slide

Jan 4, 2008 - 1:29 PM Atlanta (15-14) at Indiana (15-18) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - The slumping Indiana Pacers hope to put an end to a five-game losing streak when the Atlanta Hawks pay a visit on Friday.

Last time out, Mike Dunleavy scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures for the Pacers in Wednesday's 90-72 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Indiana shot a season-worst 31 percent.

"Every loss is disturbing and painful," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "We have to figure it out. Anytime you lose five in a row, you take a step back."

The Pacers hope to have guard Jamaal Tinsley in the lineup as he has missed the last three games due to a sore left hamstring. Tinsley, who is averaging 13.8 points and ranks fifth in the NBA in assists at 8.7 per game, hasn't played since December 28.

Atlanta fell to 0-2 on its three-game road trip with a 98-94 loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Joe Johnson scored 24 points and Josh Smith added 20 for the Hawks, who are trying to avoid a second three-game skid this season. They lost three games in a row from November 17-20.

In their first meeting on December 26, Johnson had 26 points and 11 rebounds to help Atlanta roll to a 107-95 victory over the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.