Indiana @ Golden State preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2016 ) Indiana 106, Golden State 142

It seemed like good news when Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his left knee instead of something more serious, but the team is tempering any enthusiasm. The Warriors won't have Curry and at least two other All-Stars available when they host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

Curry is expected to have the injury re-evaluated on April 14, right at the beginning of a first-round playoff series, but coach Steve Kerr was not willing to commit to his point guard playing when he spoke to reporters before Sunday's loss to the Utah Jazz. "Oh, there's no way he's playing in the first round," Kerr said. "There's no way. He's being re-evaluated in three weeks, so we've got to be ready for playing without him." The Pacers clinched a playoff berth with a 113-107 overtime triumph over Miami on Sunday. "Congratulations to this group, I'm proud of what they've done," Indiana coach Nate McMillan told reporters. "I love the fact that we earned the right to be there. We didn't have to depend or have help from another team in getting there. Tonight, they just showed they wanted it."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE PACERS (43-31): Indiana is still fighting for positioning in the East and is 1 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 3 spot. Victor Oladipo and Thaddeus Young combined for 45 points in Sunday's clinching win, and Young believes the team is special. "This is one of the most unique teams I've ever been around, especially with the guys we have," Young told reporters. "Everybody is kind of chipping in and doing their part. There are no egos in the locker room, everybody just goes out there and does their job and we try to win as many games as possible. The biggest thing for us is to continue to believe in what we have in this room. We've done it all season long."

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (54-19): Curry is joined by Kevin Durant (ribs) and Klay Thompson (hand) as All-Stars unavailable for Tuesday while Draymond Green (pelvis, illness) is questionable. "It's tough being without players," Golden State guard Patrick McCaw told reporters. "The biggest thing that coach is preaching is going out and giving it all we have. I think guys go out there and play extremely hard. I think that's the biggest thing right now. Not about win or lose, but giving it the maximum effort each time we step on the floor." The Warriors are likely locked into the No. 2 spot in the West as they sit 5 1/2 games behind the Houston Rockets and nine in front of third-place Portland.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors PG Quinn Cook is averaging 20.6 points over the last five games, raising his season mark to 7.3.

2. Pacers C Domantas Sabonis (ankle) sat out the last six games and remains questionable for Tuesday.

3. Golden State took the two meetings last season by a combined 73 points.

PREDICTION: Pacers 121, Warriors 108