Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

Nets, Pacers begin important home-and-home set

Wed 26th, March 2008

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets and Indiana Pacers, two teams locked in a heated battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, square off this evening in the opener of a key home-and-home series from the Izod Center.

Atlanta enters tonight's play in control of the East's eighth and final postseason berth, but the Nets are lurking just one-half game behind the Hawks and Indiana is currently only 1 1/2 games out of the mix.

The Pacers have vaulted back into contention due to a recent four-game win streak, the club's longest of the season. That tear did come to an end, however, with Tuesday's 114-106 home loss to the powerful New Orleans Hornets.

Danny Granger topped Indiana with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Mike Dunleavy and Shawne Williams each scored 17 in the defeat, which also stopped a string of five consecutive home victories for the Pacers.

Tuesday's loss came one day after the Pacers announced that CEO and president Donnie Walsh will be leaving the organization at the conclusion of this season. Reports late Monday night had the 67-year-old Walsh agreeing to a three-year, $15 million deal to take over the front office for the New York Knicks, although Indiana officials have denied those rumors.

New Jersey is coming off a much-needed victory across the river, a 106-91 decision over the downtrodden New York Knicks Monday at Madison Square Garden.

The Nets halted a nine-game road losing streak behind a 27-point, seven- assist, six-rebound performance from Vince Carter, while Richard Jefferson poured in 26 points and Nenad Kristic contributed a season-high 22 to the winning effort.

New Jersey, which is just 4-9 in March and ended a two-game overall skid with Monday's triumph, sports an 18-18 record at the Izod Center this season and has won three of its last four at home.

The Nets have also enjoyed recent success when facing the Pacers at the Meadowlands, where Indiana has tasted defeat in its last three visits and five of its six most recent stops. New Jersey has also taken five of the last six overall matchups in the series.

These teams will wrap up this home-and-home set Friday in Indianapolis.

Where the players come to play and STAY.