--The agent for locked out G Jamaal Tinsley has approached Pacers officials about a possible buyout of the final three years of his contract, which is worth a little more than $21 million. The Pacers have told Tinsley to stay away from the team while they pursue trade options, which is something they plan to continue doing.
"Our position stays the same as it's always been. We're still trying to trade him," Pacers president Larry Bird said through a team spokesman. --With no true superstar on the roster, the Pacers have taken the approach of getting balanced scoring. They had six players, including the entire starting five, score in double figures Saturday. G T.J. Ford scored a team-high 16 points.
--Winning more than three consecutive games is a challenge for the Pacers. Indiana, which has dropped two straight games after winning three in a row, won more than three games in row just twice last season. The Pacers' longest winning streak was just four games in 2007-08.
--The Pacers' starting frontcourt of Danny Granger (15 points, 10 rebounds), Troy Murphy (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Rasho Nesterovic (12 points, 12 rebounds) registered double-doubles in the same game for the first time this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's a rookie that's going to blossom sooner than people think he is. He's going to be a great player, maybe as soon as the end of this year. When he's knocking down 3s, he's a very, very difficult guy to guard." --Coach Jim O'Brien, on Chicago rookie Derrick Rose, who had 23 points and eight assists.
