Indiana paces into LA

This is the first of two meetings this season between the clubs. The Pacers are scheduled to host LA on February 2, 2007 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana has won two of the last three meetings in this series. The Pacers have lost seven straight and 13 of their last 14 at the Lakers. The last time the Pacers defeated the Lakers on the road was on February 14, 1999.

The Lakers open a four-game homestand this evening. Superstar Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, as the Lakers added another chapter to their rivalry with the Clippers by posting a 97-88 win on Saturday at the Staples Center. Bryant shot 11-of-23 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Lamar Odom posted 18 points and eight rebounds in the win over the Clippers for the Lakers, who have won two in a row and seven of their last nine overall. Smush Parker ended with 11 points and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 10 off the bench.

The Lakers are 9-2 as the host this season. They will play the Hornets on Wednesday, Atlanta on Friday and San Antonio on December 10th in the finale of the current homestand.

Indiana plays the finale of its season-long six-game road trip. The Pacers have lost two in a row and are 3-2 on the swing. On Saturday, Carmelo Anthony had a season-high 38 points, scoring 24 in the first half, as Denver cruised by Indiana, 121-101, at the Pepsi Center.

Jamaal Tinsley finished with 25 points and eight assists in the loss to Denver for the Pacers. Jermaine O’Neal contributed 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Al Harrington collected 18 points.

On the injury front for Indiana, swingman Stephen Jackson (sore right knee) is questionable for tonight’s game. He did not score in 25 minutes of action against the Nuggets. Jackson, who has played in all 18 of Indiana’s games, is averaging 11.5 points per contest this season.

The Pacers are 5-7 on the road this season. After tonight’s contest, they return home to host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.