Indiana @ Charlotte preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2019 ) Charlotte 90, Indiana 99

The Charlotte Hornets got off to a rough start on their four-game road trip but finished things off strong and head home with a two-game winning streak. The Hornets will try to make it three in a row when they host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

Charlotte dropped games to the Lakers and the Clippers in Los Angeles before making its way up the coast and earning wins at Sacramento and Golden State to close out the trip. The Hornets have had five different players lead the team in scoring through six games and continue to make use of a deep, young roster that saw eight different players log at least 20 minutes in Saturday's 93-87 victory over the Warriors. The Pacers are winners of three straight since beginning the season with three losses and knocked off Chicago 108-95 on Sunday despite being without Victor Oladipo (knee), Myles Turner (ankle) and Domantas Sabonis (calf). "It's huge," Indiana point guard Malcolm Brogdon told reporters after the win. "Having Victor (Oladipo) out, and you know, the type of player he is – an All-Star – and still being able to win games and put it together it's been huge for us. But then to have Myles (Turner) and (Sabonis) out, and still get this win it's huge for our confidence."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, FS Southeast (Charlotte)

ABOUT THE PACERS (3-3): Sabonis and Turner represent the starting frontcourt for Indiana, and third-year power forward T.J. Leaf made the most of some extended playing time with 13 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday's victory. "It's always next man up with us," Leaf told reporters. "So, we're just trying to fill the absence and just do what we do out there. I was just trying to do the same thing, do what I do out there." Picking up some of the scoring slack was small forward T.J. Warren, who scored a season-high 26 points against the Bulls after managing three points on 1-of-8 shooting against Cleveland on Friday.

ABOUT THE HORNETS (3-3): Third-year shooting guard Dwayne Bacon is finally getting a shot at extended minutes and enjoyed a breakout on Saturday with a career-high 25 points in 37 minutes. Bacon added a pair of steals and was part of a defensive effort that held the Warriors to 32 points in the second half. "Just defense," Bacon told reporters. "Trusting each other, trusting our principles. We locked in at the end of the game, got some key stops. We came into the (fourth) quarter only down one. (Golden State) fought. You have to give them credit. Without all their key players, they fought and came out here and gave us a game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hornets PG Terry Rozier scored 20 or more points in each of the last two games.

2. Brogdon is averaging 22.5 points and 9.7 assists and scored at least 20 points in each of the last three contests.

3. Indiana took two of the three meetings last season, with the lone loss a 127-109 setback at Charlotte on Nov. 21.

PREDICTION: Pacers 103, Hornets 97