The Thunder and Indiana Pacers played only once during last season's 66-game game schedule. The Pacers led by as many as 24 points and eventually hung on to win 103-98 in Indianapolis and take a 4-3 all-time series lead against OKC.
Leading Indiana that night was small forward Danny Granger, a former All-Star who scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. Granger is out until at least February with a left knee injury and will miss Sunday's 6 p.m. contest against the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“They're good without him. They're really good with him,” OKC coach Scott Brooks said of the Pacers after Saturday's light practice. “Granger's one of the best small forwards in the league.”
Even without Granger, the Pacers still lead the league in total rebounds this season (47.0). Last year, Indiana outrebounded OKC 50-40 as forward Paul George had a career-high 16 rebounds. Center Roy Hibbert had 12 boards and four blocks.
BIG O vs. BIG D
Sunday's game will match the league's most potent offense in OKC against one of the premier defenses in Indiana.
The Thunder leads the league in scoring (106.2), field-goal percentage (.492), 3-point percentage (.426) and free-throw percentage (.837). The Pacers are first in opponent field-goal percentage (.409) and 3-point percentage defense (.314), and second in the league in points allowed at 91.2 (behind Memphis at 91.1).
“(Against) the good defensive teams, you can't just always get your first option, so execution becomes big,” OKC forward Nick Collison said.
Brooks added: “Defensively, they're the best in the league. They challenge. They're physical. They put their bodies on you and they rebound the ball very well.”
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