Game Previews

Nets play last road game of the season in Indiana against Paul George and the Pacers

By Anthony Parisi Apr 10, 2016, 8:25am EDT

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The losses continue to pile up for the Nets. Another win seems very unlikely to happen this season for Brooklyn who have now lost seven games in a row.

Thomas Robinson has continued to play well, but besides that there hasn't been anything too positive for the Nets. Brooklyn is coming off of a 113-99 loss to the Wizards in which T-Rob recorded his sixth straight double-double. In his first career NBA start, Chris McCullough recorded a career high 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in 24 minutes.

This miserable season is almost finished and what could be an even more miserable offseason is going to be underway before we know it. The Nets last road game of the season is in Indiana tonight against the playoff bound Pacers.

Where to follow the game?

YES Network on TV, WFAN 101.9 FM on radio. Tip off after 6:00 PM.

Injuries

The Nets will be without Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young due to rest and Jarrett Jack to a torn ACL. Willie Reed has left the team for personal reasons.

Paul George is expected to play with a sore left ankle.

The game

2015-2016	Brooklyn	Indiana
Record	21-58	42-37
Pace	97.2	99.0
Offensive Efficiency	100.9	102.1
Defensive Efficiency	108.1	100.4
Turnover Rate	13.8	13.4
Assist Rate	17.0	16.0
Offensive Rebounding Rate	24.3	23.2
Rebound Rate	49.7	49.6
Free Throw Rate	24.7	25.4
Effective Field Goal Percentage	49.2	49.5
Opponent's Effective Field Goal Percentage	53.2	50.3

Previous matchups

On December 18th, Indiana beat the Nets 104-97, on February 3rd, Brooklyn lost 114-100 and on March 26th, Brooklyn beat Indiana 120-110. Indiana leads the season series 2-1.

Player to watch: Paul George

Paul George is the main reason why the Pacers are back in the playoffs this year. George is having a great season averaging 23.3 points and 7 rebounds per game on 42 percent shooting.

It's George's first full season since suffering that gruesome leg injury and he couldn't have asked for a better season. George, 25 was considered a premier player by many pundits before injuring his leg and he has shown that he still is in that elite tier.

George always has the ability to go off for a big game so Brooklyn will need to do what they can to contain him. Sore ankle or not, George is going to come out and have an impact as per usual against a Nets team that is counting down the days till this nightmare of a season is over.

Nets X-factor: Chris McCullough

McCullough is coming off of his first NBA start and as the season progresses, so has the experience for McCullough. McCullough has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in his NBA career after scoring a career high 12 points on Friday.

The three-point stroke looked as smooth as it has all season for McCullough on Friday. If McCullough can consistently hit open shots like he did on Friday, he will continue to get career high's in points.

If Brooklyn has any hopes of upsetting the Pacers they will need a big game from McCullough. Tonight will be McCullough's 22nd career NBA game and he's already showing signs of improvement in such a short time frame.

Pacers X-factor: Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis has had his worst season statistically since his rookie year. Ellis is averaging 14 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range.

Indiana is all but guaranteed to make the postseason as either the eighth seed or the seventh seed. Being an underdog is a tough task for any team to overcome and Indiana will need Ellis to play well if they have any hopes of upsetting the Cavs or the Raptors.

Ellis has had his problems versus the Nets this year averaging only 5.3 points per game in the three meetings this season. The Pacers will need Ellis to have an impact in a game where if Indiana wins they clinch a playoff spot.

From the vault

2002 win or go home. Reggie Miller did literally everything he could to lead the Pacers to an upset victory over the heavily favored New Jersey Nets, but in the end it was too much Jason Kidd and the Nets.