After three days between games, Pacers face Clippers for the second time in a week

After an usually long break between games on a road trip, the Pacers resume play Sunday night in Hollywood.

This is the second game of a five-game road trip that spans 11 days, their longest stretch away from home of the season. To get the trip started, they yielded a season-high 131 points on Wednesday in Portland in a very disappointing effort. They finished with 109 points — the same amount the Trail Blazers scored through three periods.

That dropped their record below .500 yet again, to 9-10.

The Pacers remained in Portland until Thursday, and then they flew to Los Angeles.

It’ll be interesting to see both teams’ effort and concentration Sunday at the Staples Center. Having just completed a six-game road trip, the Clippers (16-5) will be playing their first home game since Nov. 21 against Toronto. And that first game off a long roadie typically proves to be their most difficult.

Meantime, the Pacers had three nights to spend in Los Angeles where there’s never any shortage of things to do. See friends, go the beach, get caught in traffic, and, of course, go to the clubs. This matchup, their final meeting of the year, is set to tip off at 9:30 ET.

For the Pacers, it is the first of five games over the next seven days.

[Five-game road trip may be exactly what the Pacers need]

Al Jefferson puts up a shot over the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan. [Frank McGrath/PS&E]

These two teams squared off just one week ago in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. In the Pacers’ 91-70 win, it was a combination of the  Pacers clamping down on defense and the Clippers missing shots and turning it over plenty. Never before had the Doc Rivers-coached Clippers been held below 80 points; and the Pacers limited them to 70.

What this last week, with just two games over six games, afforded Indiana was the chance for several players to rest up and improve their health. The Pacers have been without Paul George (sore left ankle) for six of the last seven games, C.J. Miles (sore left knee) for six games, Kevin Seraphin (sore left knee) for four games.

All three players returned to practice and are officially listed as questionable for Sunday. If it’s up to George, the Palmdale, Calif., native, it’s hard to imagine that he will sit out this one back home. These are always extra special.

The absence of George, though, created an opportunity for third-year wing Glenn Robinson III, who has shined this season when receiving additional playing time. Over the last three games — two wins — GRIII has averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and scored on 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) of his field goal attempts.

With a win, the Pacers would sweep their season series with the Clippers for the first time in four seasons. They have won three of their last four meetings in L.A. against the Clippers.