The number of games remaining is starting to dwindle, which means the Pacers have to take care of their business and also get help from other teams if they expect to get the eighth spot in the playoffs.
Indiana's next task comes Monday when the Dwyane Wade-less Miami Heat visit. The Pacers have won two of the three meetings this season and shouldn't have a problem this time because the Heat are without starters Wade and Udonis Haslem. The Heat are already looking ahead to next season because coach Pat Riley is spending part of his time scouting some of the premier college players in the NCAA Tournament since Miami is expected to have one of the top picks in the NBA Draft.
Pacers power forward Jermaine O'Neal is expected to return to the lineup after missing the previous 33 games with a sore left knee. O'Neal's return will help the Pacers defensively and offensively in the post, two areas they have struggled at mightily in his absence.
PACERS 123, NETS 115: The area that has failed the Pacers most of the season -- defense -- was what won the game for them.
The Pacers ended their two-game losing skid by holding the Nets to 33 percent shooting in the fourth quarter to help them come from seven points down.
Defense has been the Pacers' downfall most of the season. They haven't had a lot of problems scoring, but stopping opponents has been a different subject.
After allowing New Jersey to shoot 54 percent in Wednesday's loss, Indiana held the Nets to only 43 percent on Friday.
Danny Granger led six players, including all five starters, in double-figures when he scored 26 points. Troy Murphy returned from his one-game absence to add 21 points and a season-high 17 rebounds.
