Sacramento @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 5, 2019 ) Sacramento 106, Indiana 130

The Indiana Pacers have a pair of high-profile victories during their winning streak and can match their longest run of the season at five in a row with a win against the visiting Sacramento Kings on Friday. The Pacers' four-game run began with a triumph over the Boston Celtics and the most recent result was a dramatic 105-102 win over the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers, who had won 14 straight on the road.

"We're a really good team. We've got to come to play every night," guard Malcolm Brogdon told reporters. "But we can compete. We can beat anybody." The Kings have been competing of late as well and had four wins in a five-game span before falling 110-102 at Charlotte on Tuesday. Seven players scored in double figures for Sacramento but it was outrebounded 51-33 while falling to 6-10 on the road and 4-8 against the Eastern Conference. The teams split two meetings last season but the Kings have lost three in a row at Indiana.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Indiana

ABOUT THE KINGS (12-15): Despite the loss Tuesday night, Sacramento received a big boost in the form of point guard De'Aaron Fox, who returned after missing 17 games with a sprained ankle. Fox led the team with 19 points and eight assists in 30 minutes off the bench. "It was nice to get De'Aaron Fox back out there," coach Luke Walton told reporters. "I thought he looked good and was moving well, created some good looks and opportunities for us and we will continue to get better and learn from this game."

ABOUT THE PACERS (19-9): Brogdon has emerged as the team leader and was clutch against the Lakers with seven of his 14 points in the final three-plus minutes, including the tiebreaking basket with 36.4 seconds to go. "We trust him with the ball in his hands and he's been making tough shots for us," forward Domantas Sabonis told reporters of Brogdon. "He's been big for us all year." Sabonis finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds for his 13th consecutive double-double.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pacers SG Jeremy Lamb is day-to-day after leaving Tuesday's win with a groin injury.

2. Kings PF Marvin Bagley III is averaging 13 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22 minutes over four games since returning from a broken thumb.

3. Indiana C Myles Turner made 3-of-6 3-pointers against the Lakers after hitting 7-of-38 over his previous nine games.

PREDICTION: Pacers 111, Kings 104