The Pacers keep starting quick and fast speedy with interim coach Frank Vogel. The T'Wolves are very pleased with the beginning to their journey away from home.
Indiana is trying to increase their high for the year winning run at Conseco Fieldhouse to 5 Friday evening when they encounter a T'Wolves club attempting to record 3 consecutive away from home wins for the 1st occasion in 2 years. Since coach Jim O'Brien had been let go January 30th, the Pacers ( 22 - 28 ) have picked up 5 of 6 with Vogel to climb into 8th position within the East.
Wednesday's 104 - 103 win against the Bobcats elevated the Pacers 1 matchup in front of the Bobcats & within a game of 7th place 76ers.
Sizzling starts might assist the Pacers make that push. They made 13 of 24 attempts during the starting twelve minutes Wednesday for their 8th straight matchup at 50 % or better during the 1st period, they have led following 7 of them. They are putting in 31.7 points in that span with Vogel & almost ten more per game since the ex- assistant took over.
They have put in 108.0 points within their 4 game victory streak on their home court.
In the T'Wolves previous trip to Conseco Fieldhouse, the Pacers had been leading 73 - 45 at half-time & cruised to a 122 - 111 win January 2nd, 2010.
The Pacers have picked up 16 of 20 all - time on their home court in this series, however the T'Wolves ( 13 - 39 ) come into this game with a lot of momentum following beating the Hornets & the Rockets to start their 3 game trek.
Playing not having starters Darko Milicic who has a hip injury, Luke Ridnour who is out for personal reasons & Michael Beasley who is injured with an ankle injury, who all might be on the sidelines once again Friday, the Timberwolves broke a thirteen game slide to the Rockets with Tuesday's 112 - 108 win.
While coach Kurt Rambis has mixed up starting rotations with backup C Nikola Pekovic, Wes Johnson & Jonny Flynn, , All Star forward Kevin Love has been the club's most solid player. He had twenty points & fourteen boards Tuesday for his 38th consecutive double - double, surpassing Kevin Garnett's club record. Moses Malone got 44 consecutive for the 76ers in 1982 - 1983 and this is the longest run since then.
Love had been kept to sixteen points & 8 boards in the previous years' defeat at Conseco Fieldhouse vs. the Pacers, which broke his high for the year eleven game double - double run.
Vogel has definitely agreed with Roy Hibbert who has 4 double-doubles within the last six games under the new coach, putting in 18.7 points, 5.8 more than his average for the year. He got a personal best - tying twenty-nine points with ten boards Wednesday.
Hibbert put in 18.0 points as the Pacers & Timberwolves split 2 matchups the previous year.
Minnesota, 2 - 23 away from home before this trek, previously picked up 3 consecutive on the road April 3rd to 8th, 2009.