Candace Buckner

Pacers at Nuggets%2C 9 p.m. Saturday%2C FSI

DENVER – Every NBA team that plays in Denver has to develop a game plan to defend Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson and his unrelenting drives to the basket. But even more concerning than Lawson's quickness for visiting teams – surviving the shock of playing 5,280 feet above sea level.

"It's definitely there," Indiana Pacers wing C.J. Miles said about the legendary tales of the difficulty to breathe in Denver. "They're not making it up. I think it's talked about so much, it gets in your psyche."

The altitude presents a particular concern for tourists of the Mile High City – it's why veteran cab drivers stationed at the Denver International Airport keep bottles of water to help hydrate their passengers, and the logic behind Pacers coach Frank Vogel running practice longer than usual on Friday, the day before his team plays the Denver Nuggets.

"Most of it was up and down, tried to get their tongues hanging out and was effective in doing so, quite often," Vogel said about the extended session on the Nuggets' practice court. "Who knows if they can get used to it in one day, but hopefully it benefits this team."

Though the plan was to run ragged for as long as possible, the Pacers (8-18) should be thankful for such a rare occasion – actually having a day to prepare in Denver for the road test.

Indiana has lost five straight games in Denver, including last season's 109-96 blowout in which the Pacers' largest deficit swelled to 19 points. On that Saturday night, the second night of a road back-to-back, the Pacers did not even get a morning shootaround, adding to the team's woes.

Though other factors have been in play besides the thin air over the past 10 years, the Pacers have lost all three games in Denver when playing on the second night of a back-to-back with an average margin of defeat at 15.7 points. However, over that same 10-year span, the results as a road team improve slightly when playing the Nuggets after a day of rest – 2-5 record and 6.7 points as the average margin of defeat.

Roy Hibbert, more than any other Pacer, should benefit from the day of practice. Hibbert has exercise-induced asthma, which he says he has under control, so getting acclimated to the atmosphere Friday should help Saturday night.

"We usually don't have a day to practice to get your legs under you and your lungs going. We usually we play back-to-backs (when) we come in here," said Hibbert, who fouled out in only 19 minutes the last time the Pacers played in Denver. "The air is very thin and you know it's coming, so you try not to psyche yourself out about it, but yeah, you just try to get your second wind as fast as possible."

Miles played his first seven years in Salt Lake City, another high-altitude area, and said when his Jazz teammates returned from extended trips through the Eastern Conference, even they would feel their lungs on fire the first few minutes while playing back home. Miles plans on chugging more water the night before playing the Nuggets to ward off cramping on Saturday. However, more than just preparing his body, Miles said he will discipline his mind.

"It's definitely real but it's mental, too, I think for the most part. If you go in there thinking about it, you're going to look for it," Miles said. "You can feel it a little bit, your first few times up and down but your body adjusts (but) it's December, the shape we're in now shouldn't (take) that big of a toll."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.

NDIANA AT DENVER

Tipoff: 9 p.m. Saturday.

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-FM-107.5 FM, 1070 AM.

PACERS (8-18)

Projected starters

Pos. Player PPG Key stat PG C.J. Watson 11.3 4.4 apg SG Rodney Stuckey 13.2 3.7 rpg SF Solomon Hill 10.7 5.1 rpg PF David West 12.2 6.5 rpg C Roy Hibbert 11.3 2.0 bpg 6th Lavoy Allen 7.2 7.7 rpg

NUGGETS (10-15)*

Projected starters

Pos. Player Ht Key stat PG Ty Lawson 15.4 10.6 apg SG Arron Afflalo 15.4 3.2 rpg SF Wilson Chandler 14.8 6.2 rpg PF Kenneth Faried 11.0 6.8 rpg C Timofey Mozgov 9.3 7.9 rpg 6th Darrell Arthur 7.6 4.1 rpg

*The Nuggets played the L.A. Clippers late Friday night.

STORYLINES

Lawson to the rim: Denver can puree defenses with its pick-and-roll, spearheaded by playmaking point guard Ty Lawson. According to NBA.com, no player drives to the rim more than Lawson (13.2 per game). Also, Lawson produces an NBA-best 15.0 points per game for Denver on his drives. So when Denver goes pick-and-roll, the Pacers bigs will have to aggressively defend.

Harris since his debut: On Nov. 14, Nuggets rookie and former IndyStar Mr. Basketball from Hamilton Southeastern High School Gary Harris made his NBA debut against the Pacers. Not only did Harris have a highlight dunk, he also hit 6-of-10 shots for 13 points. Since that big splash, Harris has struggled to find his shot – just 25 percent in 12 appearances.

He said what?! "I like to think we're not playing the same we were playing when we went into that game, number 1. And number 2, being aware and executing. … We know how they want to play or the tempo they want to play, you know the personnel, the guys run, they take 3s, leak out. We know that; it's about being aware of it and taking advantage of what they give us to not give up easy baskets." – CJ Miles on the key to beating the Nuggets. On Nov. 14, Denver blew away the Pacers 108-87 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Prediction: The Nuggets hosted the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, so for a change, the Pacers have an edge as the rested team coming into Pepsi Center. Point guard C.J. Watson (sinus infection) is listed as probable for the game. Watson has been dealing with a sickness – he blames it on the climate change from Indianapolis to the warmer temperatures out west – and sat out portions of the practice on Friday. Watson was not on the floor the first time the teams played this season, but those Pacers who were healthy enough to play should remember how hard the Nuggets competed. With a day off before this latest matchup, the Pacers have no excuse not to return the favor. Indiana wins 101-95.

— Candace Buckner