Long known for their stifling defense, the Indiana Pacers are one of the top-scoring teams in the league. But keeping up with the Los Angeles Lakers may be too much to ask.

The high-powered Lakers (20-11) look for their sixth win in seventh games on Sunday when they host the Pacers, who are beginning a five-game Western road trip. Los Angeles has scored 107.0 points per game - third-best in the league - but has been even better lately. In their last three wins, the Lakers have averaged 123.0 points, highlighted by a 124-93 victory over Philadelphia on Friday - their most lopsided win of the season. They recorded their best shooting percentage in more than 23 years by making 66.2 percent (47-for-72) of their shots.

So Indiana with out Jamaal Tinsley whose 8.7 assists per game rank fifth in the league is facing a firing team. A team that even without Odom it's still keeping the same high tempo.

My opinion is that Lakers will put double digits against this average road team. So the 9 points handicap could be too small because lets remember that they've trashed Pacers at Indiana by 20 points.