Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers game preview, odds, and information

West meets east in a showdown of two thriving competitive entities

By joshua broom@BroomSports82 Feb 6, 2017, 12:31pm CST

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder

Tonight, riding a pair of statement wins, the Oklahoma City Thunder look to halt Indiana’s momentum while extending their own.

For Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook’s recent clutch heroics have reached dizzying heights. The six-time All Star has crushed both Memphis and Portland with successive fourth-quarter performances for the ages.

Briefly consider Westbrook’s averages of 19 ppg, 15-17 FTA, and 10-15 FGM through his past two final stanzas. This sheer force of will has erased a despondent season narrative and infused the gritty and resourceful Thunder with renewed life.

Consider also that Billy Donovan’s masterful ideology has elicited the utmost from a roster cast aside by many pursuant to seismic off-season shifts, and again as Enes Kanter shattered his forearm.

While this OKC iteration has struggled at times, its defining element is a seemingly endless inner reserve and will to win. That intangible cannot be discounted tonight, on the tail end of a back-to-back vs. the steamrolling Indiana Pacers.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have reeled six-consecutive victories. The crowning achievement of Indiana’s impressive run is a 120-101 statement win over Houston.

Coach Nate McMillan’s surging group has utilized swarming defense and the all-around play of Paul George, Jeff Teague, and Myles Turner to barrel through the Eastern Conference standings.

Tonight’s West vs. East matchup will feature a pair of dueling All-Star reserves, but is likely to be won or lost by each acclaimed players’ supporting cast.

Indiana used 30 points from Teague, and 20 from Thaddeus Young (currently out due to injury) to defeat OKC 115-111 during an early Nov. overtime meeting.

GAME INFORMATION

Oklahoma City Thunder (30-22 #7 West) vs. Indiana Pacers (28-22 #6 East)
Time: 7 PM ET
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: FS Oklahoma HD

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER KEYS TO VICTORY

Limit Jeff Teague: Teague has a history of inconsistent play. OKC should make the mercurial guard doubt himself early and often.
Roberson vs. George: This is tonight’s key matchup. Roberson must hound George on the perimeter.
Play physical on the interior: This begins and ends with Steven Adams’ efforts.
Oladipo effect: Oklahoma City needs consecutive strong games from its starting two-guard.
Keep up the energy after traveling from OKC to Indy on the second night of a back-to-back
Westbrook. His value to the team is so immense that listing him in the ‘keys to victory’ is a near-bromide exercise.

Probable Starting Lineups/Injury Report

The Oklahoma City Thunder lists Enes Kanter (Forearm) as out. Alex Abrines is cleared to play, but may have his minutes cut into by a recently effective Anthony Morrow. The Indiana Pacers list Thaddeus Young (wrist) as out. Myles Turner (Illness) and Rodney Stuckey (Ankle) are questionable for tonight’s contest.