Vitals: Pacers at Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in game two of its four-game homestand.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:25 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Jan 9, 2010 1:9 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Indiana Pacers (11-24) at Oklahoma City Thunder (19-16)
Saturday, January 9, 2010, 7:00 p.m. CST
Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Game 36 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups

	Pacers (Away)	Thunder (Home)
PG	Earl Watson 7.1 PPG, 3.9 APG	Russell Westbrook 16.2 PPG, 3.0 APG
SG	Luther Head 9.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG	Thabo Sefolosha 6.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG
SF	Danny Granger 24.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG	Kevin Durant 28.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG
PF	Troy Murphy 14.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG	Jeff Green 14.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG
C	Roy Hibbert 11.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG	Nenad Kristic 8.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG

Injuries
Oklahoma City: SF Kevin Durant (ankle, questionable), G/F Kyle Weaver (shoulder, out), G Kevin Ollie (knee, out), SF Matt Harping (knee, out).
Indiana: PG Travis Diener (toe, out), C Jeff Foster (back, questionable), PF Tyler Hansbrough (ear, questionable).

Where to find it...
On TV: FSN-Oklahoma
On Radio: Thunder Radio Network

What you need to know...
The Thunder continues its four-game homestand Saturday and is playing for more than just its 20th win. The team is four wins shy of reaching 24--the total number of wins they recorded last season. Not only does the young, developing team have a chance to surpass last season’s record, they’re also contenders for the playoffs. Each game from this point on is weighted with those goals. The Thunder will have to find a way to maintain high-energy play through the end of the fourth quarter, a feat they failed to accomplish in Thursday’s loss against the Hornets.

The Pacers have beaten the Thunder the last four times the teams have met, but have struggled mightily in away games this season. Indiana’s only 3-15 on the road and have haven’t had an away-game win since Dec. 12. The Pacers may be playing with new confidence with the return of two key players in Danny Granger and Troy Murphy.

Who to watch...
Kevin Durant is again the player to watch, as he continues to lead his young team. He’s averaging 28.4 points per game. He’s shooting 47.8 percent from inside the arch and hitting 86.9 percent of his free throws. His supporting cast is shooting well, too. Jeff Green had 20 points in Wednesday’s loss against New Orleans and Russell Westbrook’s had 101 assists in the last 12 games.

The Pacers were reenergized in their last game with the return of Granger and Murphy. Granger, coming off a heel injury which disabled him for 16 games, scored 19 points against the Timberwolves. Murphy, who was absent for four games after spraining his ankle, had 21 against Minnesota. While the performances weren’t enough to hold off the Timberwolves, the Pacers will be playing with two guys eager to see the hardwood. It could help shift the momentum of a team playing under the black cloud of a season-high, eight-game losing streak.