The news that Jamaal Tinsley will miss the rest of the regular season, and possibly the playoffs, with a stretched ligament in his left foot means Anthony Johnson will lead the team from the point guard position for the foreseeable future. Considering how well he's handled the job for the past month, the Pacers should hardly skip a beat.
Johnson has averaged 13.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 55.8 percent from the field and 56 percent from the arc in the last 11 games, scoring in double figures in all but one (when he scored nine).
"A.J.'s playing well," said Stephen Jackson. "We have the same confidence in A.J. as we do in J.T."
The season started nightmarishly for Johnson, who broke a bone in his shooting hand and opened the year on the injured list. Upon being activated, he had to serve a five-game suspension for his role in the Nov. 19 incident in Detroit. When he finally took the court, a protective glove on his right hand led to shooting and ballhandling discomfort and his game suffered as a result. He shot 35.2 percent overall and 15.4 percent from the arc December and January but after abandoning the glove, he regained his confidence -- just in time.
The Pacers lost the first seven games Tinsley missed but Johnson broke through with 21-points and 7-of-7 shooting in a 95-94 victory over Dallas on Feb. 4 and has been on top of his game ever since. The Pacers are now 13-12 with Johnson starting; they were 22-18 with Tinsley.
"It feels very good just because I know there was a stretch where without Jamaal we were 0-7," Johnson said. "I really didn't pay attention to that but once they made that a point and tried to make it sound like we couldn't win without Jamaal, I took that as a slap in the face, not only against me but the rest of the team. I really wanted to step up to that challenge. "
The Pacers have won 11 in a row from Miami during the regular season but that streak will be challenged Thursday night. In the first two victories, both in overtime, Jermaine O'Neal and Tinsley combined for 85 points. Shaquille O'Neal missed the last matchup with a strained left knee. Though Eddie Jones suffered an ankle sprain Tuesday night against Toronto and his status is uncertain, Miami is at relative full strength.
"It doesn't matter how many times you beat a team in previous games, it's about who's better that day," said Stephen Jackson. "We have to be better because we need that game. It's way more important to us than to them. They're coming in here trying to win a game; we're coming in trying to keep our hope alive for the playoffs."
TRENDS
Pacers - Jackson has averaged 22.0 points in the last 13 games but has shot 34.4 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from the 3-point line in the last nine. ... Reggie Miller has averaged 19.8 points in the last 13. ... Fred Jones has averaged 13.0 points on 55.3 percent shooting in the last five. ... Austin Croshere has averaged 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in five games since returning to the starting lineup. ... Dale Davis has made 13-of-18 field goals (72.2 percent) in the last four games. ... Scot Pollard has totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds in 43 minutes in the last two. ... Eddie Gill is 5-of-31 from the field in his last 12. ... Jeff Foster has committed nine personal fouls in 22 minutes in the last two.
Heat - Wade has averaged 12.5 free-throw attempts in the last six games. ... Shaquille O'Neal has averaged 27.0 points and 13.2 rebounds in the last five while shooting 62.9 percent from the field. ... Damon Jones has averaged 10.8 points while making 8-of-15 from the arc (53.3 percent) in the last four. ... Udonis Haslem has shot 26.1 percent in the last four. ... In his last four appearances, Alonzo Mourning has totaled 36 minutes, 20 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.
SERIES
The Pacers have won the last 11 regular-season meetings between the teams, including a pair of overtime victories this season. They lead the Heat 39-22 in the all-time series, 26-5 at home. On Jan. 21 in Miami, the Pacers won 106-100 as Tinsley and Jermaine O'Neal combined for 56 points and the Heat's Eddie Jones missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the end of regulation. On Feb. 23 in Conseco Fieldhouse, the Pacers won 93-91 as Jermaine O'Neal scored 29 and Shaquille O'Neal missed the game with a strained knee. This time, it was Wade who missed the potential game-winner, a 3-pointer at the end of overtime.
KEY MATCHUP
Bench - Though Miami's one-two punch of O'Neal and Wade can be overwhelming, the Heat sometimes struggle for help off the bench, a problem that could be exacerbated if Eddie Jones is unable to play. Fred Jones appears to have regained his energy after battling a couple of illnesses and needs to be a major factor for the Pacers.
INJURIES
Pacers - G Jamaal Tinsley (foot) is doubtful; F Jermaine O'Neal (shoulder), F Jonathan Bender (knee) and C David Harrison (knee) are on the injured list; F Ron Artest is on the suspended list.
Heat - F Eddie Jones (ankle) is questionable; F Christian Laettner (foot), F Dorell Wright (knee) and F Rasual Butler (knee) are on the injured list.
