The Brooklyn Nets (8-25) and Indiana Pacers (18-18) are scheduled to square off in a 2016-2017 NBA regular season match at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday, Jan. 5.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
Brooklyn is currently on a three-game losing slide since losing Jeremy Lin once again to a second hamstring injury this season. The team has struggled all season long, having lost 10 of their last 12 matches. They are in the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings at the moment.
The Nets are coming off an embarrassing 101-89 rout to the Utah Jazz on Monday night at their home stadium of Barclays Center, as per Fox Sports.
Trevor Booker led head coach Kenny Atkinson's squad with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and two assists in a losing effort. All-Star center Brook Lopez had 14 points, six boards, two steals, and two blocks while Lin's temporary replacement, Isaiah Whitehead, contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and one assist.
Off the bench, small forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fired 11 points in only 14 minutes of action.
Aside from Lin, Hollis-Jefferson is also not available in this match against Indiana with tendinitis in his right hip.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are on a three-game winning run after losing four straight games as the team continues to play inconsistently this season. They are seventh in the East right now with an even .500 mark, nine games behind conference-leading and defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers.
In their most recent game last Tuesday, Indiana turned back a tough challenge from the Detroit Pistons, 121-116, on the road at The Palace of Auburn Hills for their third consecutive win, USA Today reported.
All-Star forward Paul George was the man of the match for head coach Nate McMillan as he scored a game-high 32 points with six rebounds and two assists. Jeff Teague and Myles Turner backed him up with 17 points apiece. Teague also had three boards and eight assists while Turner contributed seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks as well.
Veteran shooting guard Monta Ellis led the bench with 16 points and three assists while backup center Kevin Seraphin had 10 points and five boards.
Prediction
The Nets have an awful 1-16 away record so far this season while the Pacers are 13-5 at home. Indiana is an overwhelming favorite to win this game with or without Lin.