Warriors vs. Pacers: Streaking squads meet in offense-defense matchup

US PRESSWIRE

The Golden State Warriors have won three close games in a row, the Indiana Pacers have won four straight blowouts. They'll meet Tuesday night in Indiana in a game features a few great shooters against a team that typically locks them down.

The Indiana Pacers host the Golden State Warriors in a game between two teams riding winning streaks -- a matchup that pits one of the league's elite defenses against one of its better offenses.

The Warriors shoot the league's best percentage from beyond the arc, connecting on 39.2 percent of their threes, thanks in large part to Stephen Curry, who's shooting 43.9 percent on seven 3-pointers a game, as well as solid shooters Jarrett Jack (42.7 percent) and Klay Thompson (38.5 percent). Meanwhile, teams shoot a league-worst 32.5 percent from downtown against the Pacers, who have the best defensive efficiency in the league. Those three went a combined 9-for-18 from deep in the first matchup between these teams, a 103-92 win for the Warriors. This game could come down to how well long-armed defenders like Lance Stephenson, George Hill, and Paul George defend the perimeter.

The Pacers haven't just won four games in a row, they have four straight blowouts. It's not exactly impressive to beat the Bobcats and Pistons -- that's three of their wins, coming by an average of 24.6 points a game -- but they also beat the Knicks by 34 points, 125-91. And now they add Danny Granger to a team that got into first place in the Central Division without him. He didn't look particularly great in his first game back, shooting just 1-for-10 from the field.

Indianapolis hasn't been a good place for the Warriors, who have lost ten of 11 on the road against the Pacers. They're coming off three straight wins, in part due to the surprisingly strong play of Jack, their backup point guard. The eighth-year player had a season-high 30 points in a win the San Antonio Spurs while chipping in 10 assists, and followed that up with 23 points and eight assists as the Warriors rallied back from a big early deficit to get a one-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

They'll try to win without Andrew Bogut, who hasn't been with them on this road trip as he deals with back spasms. That's good news for Roy Hibbert, who will have an easier time against Andris Biedrinis, Festus Ezeli, or a smaller lineup with David Lee.

Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: CSN Bay Area, FS indiana

Odds: The Pacers are eight-point favorites.