<font color=""Yellow""> <div align="center">The Indiana Pacers squandered an opportunity to take a commanding lead in their first-round series by losing Game 4 and allowing the New Jersey Nets to regain home-court advantage. With the series tied 2-2, the Pacers look to cut down on costly turnovers and get another win on the road when they face the Nets in Game 5 at Continental Airlines Arena. Indiana stole Game 1 from the Nets on their home floor, and after leading the series 2-1, the Pacers couldn't defend their home court as New Jersey won 97-88 in Game 4 on Saturday. Indiana shot 10-for-21 from 3-point range to stay in the game, but had 23 turnovers -- 16 in the first half. "We didn't give ourselves a chance with those turnovers," Pacers guard Anthony Johnson said. "Instead of being patient, I got myself into trouble. I got too deep trying to make plays that weren't there." Johnson, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson combined for 17 turnovers, which led to 23 points for New Jersey. Through four games, Indiana has turned the ball over 72 times, compared to 39 for New Jersey, and the Nets have outscored the Pacers 85-45 on points off turnovers. O'Neal scored 22 points before fouling out with 1:21 left, and he has been in foul trouble most of the series. He picked up two fouls in the opening 3 minutes of Saturday's game, and has played more than 32 minutes only once in four games. In the Pacers' easiest win of the series, 107-95 in Game 3, O'Neal played 41 minutes as he finished with 37 points and 15 rebounds. "We have to defend better, not turn the ball over and stay out of foul trouble," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. Pacers forward Peja Stojakovic missed his second game of the series with an injured right knee on Saturday. Indiana has lost both games without him in the lineup. "Not having him hurts our team and we're not sure we're going to have him Tuesday, either," Carlisle said. Stojakovic averaged 19.5 points in 40 games with the Pacers, and Game 2 was the first game he missed since being traded to Indiana from Sacramento on Jan. 25. The eight-year veteran has only scored 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting in 50 minutes in two playoff games, but his presence on the court is vital to the Pacers' success. "Peja's a great player," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. "He stretches out the defense and it certainly hurt Indiana not to have Peja. He's one of their best players. We're aware of what he means to their team." The Nets are 5-3 in Game 5s when the series is tied, including a 120-109 double-overtime win over the Pacers in the first round in 2002. That victory allowed New Jersey to advance, but the first-round format expanded to seven games the following year. That means this series will see a Game 6, set for Tuesday in Indianapolis. The Nets are hoping to head back to Conseco Fieldhouse with a chance to win the series after Vince Carter led them to victory in Game 4, finishing with 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting with seven assists, six rebounds and a playoff career-high six steals. "This was definitely a big win for us, and if we want to be known as a good playoff team, we have to protect our home court," Carter said. Carter is shooting 21-of-35 (60.0 percent) from the floor in New Jersey's two wins, but has made just 20-of-54 (37.0 percent) in its two losses. Nenad Krstic added 21 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Jason Kidd had a strong all-around game with 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Krstic made 10-of-16 shots on Saturday, and is shooting 54.7 percent from the field in the series while averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. "I really think outside of Dirk (Nowitzki) that he is the best-shooting big man we have in this league," said Richard Jefferson, who is averaging 21.8 points. New Jersey made just 4-of-13 3-pointers on Saturday, and is 14-for-59 (23.7 percent) in the series. </font> <font color=""Blue""> HOW THEY GOT HERE: Pacers - 6th seed. Nets - 3rd seed. PROBABLE STARTERS: Pacers - F Fred Jones, F O'Neal, C Jeff Foster, G Jackson, G Johnson. Nets - F Jefferson, F Jason Collins, C Krstic, G Carter, G Kidd. PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Pacers - O'Neal, 21.5 ppg and 8.0 rpg; Johnson, 5.5 apg. Nets - Carter, 29.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg; Kidd, 8.8 apg. </div> </font> Thoughts? We definately need Peja badly. Both games he has missed we have gone on and loose those games. Fred Jones and Danny Granger Have to step up in order to have a chance in this game. I hope my pacers win tomorrow.
Nice sig btw, im loving the yellow text btw. Great Preview btw, welcome to Jbb...btw. If AJ keeps on playing like he did in the past few games, then i think they have a bigger advantage.
