Jim Ayello

Jim Ayello

INDIANAPOLIS — Paul George hears you, Pacers fans. He hears you booing, and he wants you to know: He gets it.

But it doesn’t help.

“They pay their money, their hard-earned money to watch us play. They got the right to do whatever they want," George said after practice Tuesday. "It doesn’t hurt me. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. Just know we work harder off of cheers than boos."

George and the Pacers (22-22), for the first time this season, were booed by a swath of the home faithful Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

It came after the Pacers began the fourth quarter with a myriad of turnovers and defensive blunders that led to a 92-80 hole against the New York Knicks on national TV.

When asked after the 109-103 loss about the boos hurled at his team, George told reporters: “That’s Indy in general. We’ve been No. 1 in the East (in 2014) and lost a game at home and got booed. That’s just Indiana.”

The comment caused a stir on social media Tuesday morning. George noted that, while his teams haven't reached the peaks of the Reggie Miller era, they have helped bring the franchise back from the depths of the brawl in Detroit, and getting booed doesn't do anybody any good.

"Obviously, I get it,” he said. “The team’s not performing, and we’re not playing well. (But) it’s not like we’re out there not giving our all. We want to win just as much as the fans want us to win.

“It doesn’t help — booing us. We want to come out and play hard. We want to play hard for them. It’s not like we’re just out there to be there. I get it, though. They expect us to be at a high level. I get it. I don’t think booing is the solution.”

For the most part, George's teammates agree.

"They’re booing for a reason," said Myles Turner, whose last-minute turnover Monday night helped the Knicks seal the Pacers' third straight defeat. "We had a little bit of a letup there, and they came to see us win, not to see us drop one at home. (Hearing boos) during the game, your spirit drops a little, you know, it’s a little degrading, and at the same time, you can’t really blame them."

Lineup changes

C.J. Miles replaced Glenn Robinson III in the starting lineup Monday night against the Knicks. Miles played small forward, while George slid to small guard. It was Miles' first start since Nov. 18 against against Phoenix.

Coach Nate McMillan said fans can expect to see Miles in the starting lineup again Thursday in Minnesota, but he wouldn't commit to the lineup beyond that point.

"Hopefully we'll get everybody back here, soon, and we'll get with a lineup," McMillan said. "(We want) to put our guys in the best position where both units are going to flow. I don't want to be going back and forth with lineups. I think it's important for players to know their role."

Injury update

Rodney Stuckey could be ready to rejoin the Pacers in game action soon. Stuckey, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury, returned to practice Tuesday.

"We'll see how he feels (Wednesday)," McMillan said. "We'll go up and down a lot more tomorrow and he'll practice, and then we can make a decision if he's ready go on Thursday."

The combo guard hasn't played in a game since Dec. 26. He's missed 17 of the past 18 games, including the past 12 in a row.