8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

The battered Indiana Pacers visit the bruised Brooklyn Nets

By George Moser

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 07: Aaron Holiday #3 of the Indiana Pacers shoots a free throw at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 7, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indiana Pacers lost to the Utah Jazz 103-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lauren Bacho/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 07: Aaron Holiday #3 of the Indiana Pacers shoots a free throw at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 7, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indiana Pacers lost to the Utah Jazz 103-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lauren Bacho/Getty Images) /
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When the schedule for the first half of the season came out, an Indiana Pacers trip to the Barclays Center sounded like must-watch television. Then came the mega-trade that brought James Harden to New York, and tonight’s game started to look lopsided in favor of the Nets.

Fast forward to today and the situation is one nobody was expecting, a 12-12 Indiana Pacers team versus a 14-12 Nets team and both teams on three-game losing streaks.

Both the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers are trying to find their footing after three-game losing streaks.

Both teams enter tonight experiencing somewhat of an identity crisis. The Pacers are missing T.J. Warren and have yet to see Caris LeVert suit up. The Nets are without Kevin Durant due to health and safety protocols. Compound this with Spencer Dinwiddie out for the season and it is clear that both teams will start tonight’s contest already battered and bruised.

Both teams will be looking for a much-needed win tonight, and it is a case of who will show up more. On the one hand, the combination of Kyrie Irving and James Harden alone sounds lethal enough to beat anybody in the NBA.

However, Kevin Durant has become somewhat of a lynchpin for the Nets. Despite having a dynamo trio of Irving, Durant, and Harden, Brooklyn is struggling to develop harmony on the offensive side of the ball. These problems are highlighted when any one of them is unavailable but the issue seems exasperated with Durant.

For the Pacers, there seems to be a Victor Oladipo-sized hole in the team. Since January 14, the Pacers are 5-8 versus their 7-4 season start. To break out of the slump, and with Sabonis and Brogdon already playing superb basketball, Coach Bjorkgren is going to have to get creative to win games.

When tonight’s game tips off at 8 p.m., expect both teams to approach this game as a must-win. With both teams on losing streaks, the teams will look to adjust and play flexible basketball throughout the game. The team that can establish and execute their gameplan while making adjustments will ultimately come out on top.

Next. How the Indiana Pacers can ‘win’ the upcoming road trip. dark

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