strong>Indiana (8-8) at Seattle (2-14)

When: 7:30 p.m., KeyArena, Seattle

TV: None Radio: 770-AM

Series: Seattle won both contests last season by a combined three points. The Sonics hold a 39-27 overall advantage against the Pacers. Seattle lost to Indiana in a preseason game on Oct. 13, 97-87.

Scouting the Pacers: The Pacers have won their past two games, including a 95-89 victory at Portland on Wednesday.

Indiana missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons last season, but first-year coach Jim O’Brien has implemented an up-tempo style of play that seems to suit this young team. Indiana has won four of its past five games while averaging 105.8 points a contest.

Jermaine O’Neal, the Pacers’ leading scorer in five of the past six seasons, has been sidelined for five games by a sore left knee. However, O’Neal said he will play today.

Scouting the Sonics: Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said he’ll go with the same starting five tonight of Delonte West (point guard), Kevin Durant (shooting guard), Damien Wilkins (small forward), Chris Wilcox (power forward) and Kurt Thomas (center).

Luke Ridnour (torn left quad), Nick Collison (nasal fracture) and Robert Swift (right knee tendinitis, foot injury) will not play tonight.

Carlesimo said Swift is at least a couple weeks away from playing, still working on losing weight to help stabilize his knee.

Seattle will have to guard the 3-point line again tonight. Indiana averages 22 3-pointers a game, and shoots 34 percent from beyond the arc.

Listen to Carlesimo talk about the game here.

The Sonics also will have to keep the Pacers off the boards, particularly with O’Neal returning. Indiana ranks first in the NBA in rebounds per game (46.1).


Storm head coach Anne Donovan resigns: In a somewhat unexpected announcement, Seattle Storm head coach and general manager Anne Donovan resigned today. Karen Bryant, CEO of the Storm, held a press conference at KeyArena where she announced Donovan’s departure.

“She said it had nothing to do with relocation,” Bryant said. “She has every confidence the Storm are going to stay in Seattle, and that didn’t influence her decision. It didn’t have anything to do with her responsibilities associated with USA basketball. This really is about her having had five great years here and now she’s ready for a change.”

Read the story about Donovan leaving here. And listen to the full conversation with Bryant here.

Next: 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Golden State, KeyArena