Pacers face the Nets on 5-game slide

Updated Jan. 5, 2022 3:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Brooklyn Nets (23-12, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (14-23, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

Indianapolis; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

LINE: Pacers -6.5

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana enters the matchup with Brooklyn after losing five in a row.

The Pacers have gone 8-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Indiana is eighth in the league with 13.3 fast break points per game led by Chris Duarte averaging 2.7.

The Nets are 17-7 in Eastern Conference play. Brooklyn is eighth in the Eastern Conference allowing only 107.4 points while holding opponents to 43.0% shooting.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Nets won 105-98 in the last matchup on Oct. 29. James Harden led the Nets with 29 points, and Torrey Craig led the Pacers with 28 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Justin Holiday is shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Pacers, while averaging 10 points. Caris LeVert is shooting 43.6% and averaging 23.5 points over the past 10 games for Indiana.

Kevin Durant is scoring 29.7 points per game and averaging 7.7 rebounds for the Nets. Harden is averaging 30.2 points and 8.8 rebounds over the last 10 games for Brooklyn.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 2-8, averaging 105.2 points, 43.6 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 6.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points per game.

Nets: 6-4, averaging 113.5 points, 47.3 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points.

INJURIES: Pacers: Jeremy Lamb: out (health and safety protocols), Caris LeVert: out (health and safety protocols), T.J. McConnell: out (wrist), Goga Bitadze: out (health and safety protocols), Isaiah Jackson: out (health and safety protocols), Malcolm Brogdon: out (health and safety protocols), Chris Duarte: out (health and safety protocols), T.J. Warren: out (foot/health and safety protocols), Kelan Martin: out (health and safety protocols), Torrey Craig: day to day (groin).

Nets: Joe Harris: out (ankle), LaMarcus Aldridge: day to day (foot).

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