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Struggling Pacers set to face Hornets

Dec 28, 2008 - 7:53 AM New Orleans (17-9) at Indiana (10-19) 7:00 p.m. EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers have had no trouble scoring lately; it's stopping the other teams that has become the problem. The New Orleans Hornets face the opposite challenge.

The Pacers will match their high-scoring offense against the defense of the Hornets when the teams square off on Sunday.

Indiana is second in the Eastern Conference in scoring at 102.2 points per game but also ranks second in points allowed, surrendering 104.5 points per contest. The defensive shortcomings have been exposed in the last two games, as the Pacers have allowed 108 points in consecutive losses to both New Jersey and Memphis.

Top scorer Danny Granger, who ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring at 24.5 points, may miss the game after suffering a mild concussion in Friday's loss at Memphis.

The Hornets rank second in the NBA in scoring defense, yielding 91.2 points per game, but rank 25th in the league in scoring at 94.7.

They have been especially bad of late, having failed to top 88 points in the last three contests.

Fortunately, 88 was all New Orleans needed to halt a two-game slide on Friday, topping the Houston Rockets, 88-79. Chris Paul collected 26 points and 10 assists in the win.