OKC Thunder Preview: Can They Control the Pace at Indiana?

Early Rumblings is your ultimate OKC Thunder preview for today’s game. The Thunder are still in the hunt but must win against a surprisingly-hot Pacers team that is in their own chase for a postseason berth. Oklahoma City has struggled on the road recently but they must find a way to control the pace against Indiana in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Oklahoma City Thunder (42-35) @ Indiana Pacers (36-43)

5:00 p.m. CST€“ Sunday, April 12, 2015 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Broadcast on TNT

STARTING LINEUP: OKC	STARTING LINEUP: IND
Russell Westbrook	G	George Hill	G
Dion Waiters	G	C.J. Miles	G
Andre Roberson	F	Solomon Hill	F
Enes Kanter	F	David West	F
Steven Adams	C	Roy Hibbert	C

Key Reserves

OKC Thunder: D.J. Augustin, Anthony Morrow, Nick Collison, Mitch McGary

Indiana Pacers: Paul George, Ian Mahinmi, Rodney Stuckey, Luis Scola

Storm Alert – What to Look For in Today’s Game

Daily Reminder: The Thunder’s win over Sacramento on Friday certainly helped but they remain tied with the New Orleans Pelicans in terms of their overall record. However, the Pelicans still own the tiebreaker over OKC due to their 3-1 record over the Thunder this season. New Orleans faces Houston on Sunday night (7 p.m., EST) so a Thunder win and a Pelicans loss would effectively flip-flop their current positions in the standings by the end of the day.

Biggest story: Both teams should be feeling a little desperate. All those blown leads and injuries and earlier inconsistencies throughout the season have all led up to this point, with both OKC and Indiana on the outside-looking-in of the playoff standings. A win is a must for both teams if making the postseason remains a realistic goal (even if it’s not beneficial for the Thunder). So, which team will play with true desperation? Can Oklahoma City ignore the home crowd and escape “The Fieldhouse” with a win on Sunday?

Best matchup: These teams last faced each other in February, a 105-92 Thunder win that featured Westbrook in full “triple-double” mode:

While that kind of performance would certainly help, I think the matchup in the middle is more important. During that February game, Serge Ibaka helped limit David West and Roy Hibbert to a combined 17 points – Kanter started at center with Adams missing time due to his injured hand. Without Ibaka, how will OKC’s “Bruise Brothers” handle West and Hibbert?

Why you should watch: What else do you need to know? Both teams are acutely aware of the significance of today’s game. As coach Scott Brooks told reporters (via ESPN.com):

"“We can’t focus on what (the Pelicans are) doing, but we know we need help in order to get in the playoffs. But we have to control ourselves and our games. The next focus is on Indiana. It’s not an easy place to play, they’ve been playing good basketball. We’ve got to go win.”"

The sad reality is that even a win tonight doesn’t guarantee a spot in the playoffs for OKC. Today’s game might be one of just three games left in this season’s long, winding road. Watch and enjoy.

Current Trends: The Pacers have won four games in a row, mostly due to their defense, holding opponents to just 88 points per game during that stretch. But their scoring has been higher than usual though, at 103.5 PPG during the win streak…Before bouncing back with an efficient night vs. the Kings, Westbrook’s scoring had been struggling, shooting just 35.8 percent over the previous 11 games…Since returning to action following a gruesome leg injury, Paul George is averaging 11 PPG, including shooting 50 percent (6-of-12) from 3-point range.

History Pattern: Not surprising given OKC’s issues at center over the years, but Hibbert’s 12.8 PPG over his career against the Thunder is his second-highest average against all teams. Similarly, West’s 18.5 PPG scoring average is his highest against all teams…OKC has won 6-of-8 games in the lifetime series between both teams…Kanter has done well versus the Pacers, good for 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in seven career matchups…Conversely, Waiters has shot just 34.5 percent in eight games against Indiana.

"Statistics are provided by ESPN.com or Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted"

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