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Granger has Pacers eyeing third straight win

Dec 19, 2008 - 2:20 PM LA Clippers (7-18) at Indiana (9-16) 7:00 p.m. EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Danny Granger is proving he's all the Indiana Pacers need to succeed.

The shorthanded Pacers aim for their third straight win on Friday when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.

Without a trio of key players in the lineup, Granger poured in 41 points and added 11 rebounds, leading Indiana to a 127-120 victory against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

T.J. Ford missed the game with a left groin injury and his status for Friday's contest is uncertain. Troy Murphy should be back after missing Wednesday's tilt with a stomach virus while Mike Dunleavy, who has yet to play this season, continues to work his way back from a sore right knee.

Granger's outburst against the Warriors came just two nights after he scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds during Monday's 118-98 triumph over the Washington Wizards, which snapped a six-game losing streak.

The 25-year-old forward's recent performances certainly caught the attention of the opposition.

"He's an incredible player," Golden State coach Don Nelson said of Granger. "He's turned out to be one of the top players in the league. He is a very difficult guard, they run a lot of

good stuff for him, and he's the man right now."

The Clippers' three-game win streak came to a screeching halt on Wednesday as the team dropped a heart-breaking 115-109 overtime decision to the Chicago Bulls.

Los Angeles held a late lead, but the Bulls got a four-point play from Ben Gordon to force overtime and took control in the extra session.