Bobcats try to stop five-game skid when they host Indiana

(Basketball News) - The Charlotte Bobcats try and put the brakes on a five-game losing streak this evening when they start a home-and-home against the Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Charlotte’s latest loss came on Tuesday, as it was dealt an 85-77 setback at the hands of the Orlando Magic at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Keith Bogans led Charlotte in scoring with 18 points and Sean May added 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Bobcats, who are just 2-6 on the season.

Emeka Okafor scored eight points on 4-of-9 shooting in the loss with no Bobcat starter scoring in double-figures.

On the injury front forward Gerald Wallace (wrist), the team’s leading scorer, missed his third straight game with a chipped bone in his right wrist. He is not expected to play tonight either.

The Bobcats, who will head to Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday, are a dismal 1-3 in their arena this season.

Indiana, meanwhile, comes in on a losing note as well after a heart-breaking setback to the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-102, on Saturday at the Bradley Center.

Jermaine O’Neal finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds while Ron Artest scored 24 points for the Pacers, who were up by as many as 20 points in the first half but failed to seal the win with poor foul shooting down the stretch.

With the Pacers up 101-100, Indiana’s Fred Jones went to the foul line with seven seconds left to play and hit the first shot before his second missed the mark. O’Neal got the offensive rebound but couldn’t convert, and Milwaukee’s Bobby Simmons grabbed the carom and kicked it out to Maurice Williams, who dribbled up the court and let fly a long jumper at the buzzer that swished through the net.

Indiana, which has not lost consecutive games all season, is 2-1 away from home this season.

The Pacers won all three meetings with the Bobcats last season.