Indianapolis, IN (My Sportsbook) - The
Indiana Pacers will try to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference standings when they host the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland has lost 10 of its last 12 games entering tonight's contest. The Cavs snapped a four-game slide with a 105-102 victory over the Houston Rockets their last time out. Ricky Davis led the way with 21 points and 10 assists. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 points and seven rebounds to the victory.
The Cavs shot well and took great care of the ball. Cleveland shot 45.5 percent from the field and turned the ball over just 10 times.
Ilgauskas got a good look at Houston rookie Yao Ming.
"I knew it was going to be a hard game for me since Yao is so tall," Ilgauskas said. "He's a good player, so I was a little bit pumped up. I played a little bit more away from the basket, which allows me to work on other aspects of my game."
Cleveland has lost seven straight away from Gund Arena and has a 3-24 mark on the road this season. The Cavs are 4-25 within the Eastern Conference.
Indiana is tied with New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Given their dominant play at home, the Pacers would love to secure home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference tournament. The Pacers are 22-3 at Conseco Fieldhouse, while the Nets are 22-2 at Continental Airlines Arena.
The Pacers are coming off a 97-94 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Jermaine O'Neal scored 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the losing effort. As it turned out, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were too much to deal with. Bryant finished with 35 points, while Shaquille O'Neal added 19 points and 12 rebounds to Los Angeles' victory.
"We had our opportunities," Reggie Miller said. "That was a time where we want to create a little space. If you can't create any distance or space and make them comeback, it's virtually impossible."
The Pacers are 24-8 within the Eastern Conference.
Indiana has won both meetings with Cleveland this season, posting victories both at home and on the road. The season series concludes at Gund Arena on April 2.
