Indiana is in stop-the-pain mode with four losses in its last five games, including the last three. Those defeats occurred to the Heat in overtime on the road, a one-point home loss to the Hornets, a nine point-home loss to the red-hot Trail Blazers - winners of 14 of their last 16 - and this past Monday to the Cavaliers, 100-96, on the road in a game that featured 25 lead changes, 17 ties and tough official's calls that went against Indiana.

The Pacers are a frustrated team that should be highly focused for this matchup especially since Paul George called into question the team's toughness. Now the Pacers get to step down in class. The Pacers have lost a dozen games by four points or less. They are due to win one of these close ones.

The Bucks are six games worse in the standings than the Pacers. They are fat and happy after beating the Rockets, 128-121, this past Monday at home. The Pacers aren't the Rockets, though. The Rockets don't play defense. The Pacers do ranking 10th in the league. They are better coached, too, than Houston.

Milwaukee leads the NBA in points in the paint, but rank 23rd in points per game. The Pacers have gotten better up front as rookie forward Myles Turner has been coming on strong since the All-Star break and center Ian Mahinmi is drawing more minutes.

Milwaukee remains thin in the backcourt. The Bucks just got Jerry Bayless back, but now starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams is dealing with patella tendinitis and is questionable. George gives the Pacers the best player on the court and Indiana's backcourt depth is bolstered by the return of Rodney Stuckey.