The Indiana Pacers' decision-makers have made no secret about the need for another big body.

Tuesday, the players went out and once again proved why.

 




Helpless to contend with Karl Malone, the Pacers resumed their season with a thud in a 98-82 loss to Utah at Conseco Fieldhouse. It was their third consecutive loss, and dropped them below .500 (25-26) for the first time since they were 8-9.

The analysis for this one is simple. They got outrebounded 50-34 and allowed the 38-year-old Malone 34 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Jermaine O'Neal had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers but fouled out trying to deal with Malone, who had a 20-pound weight advantage. Jeff Foster had 11 rebounds but got three quick fouls in the second quarter.

O'Neal and Foster had more rebounds between them (23) than the other six Pacers managed to accumulate (11). And Thomas saw nobody on his bench who could have helped.

"We're just a very soft team right now," Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said. "We get pushed around a lot.