Indiana (30-27) at Houston (28-33) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Given a brief respite from the road, the Indiana Pacers failed to take advantage.

Following a difficult loss at home, the Pacers will try to slow down the Houston Rockets in the opener of a three-game road trip Wednesday.

The Rockets hope to have Tracy McGrady back in the lineup. The All-Star swingman missed another game Tuesday due to a sore back, the 18th he has sat out this season due to the injury.

Indiana posted an impressive 3-1 mark on an important four-game trek, only to follow it up with a 107-92 setback to lowly New York at Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Stephen Jackson and Peja Stojakovic scored 20 points apiece for the Pacers, but six Knicks reached double figures in Indiana's second-worst defensive effort in 2006.

Getting back on track away from Conseco will not be an easy task against the Rockets, who have won three straight and 13 of 17. The surge has lifted Houston to within three games of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Yao Ming has been the catalyst during the Rockets' most recent winning streak, averaging 27.7 points and 11.7 rebounds in the three victories. He had 30 and 13 in Tuesday's 93-87 victory at Minnesota.

McGrady was listed as a game-time decision before the win and likely will be again when the Pacers come to town. He was absent the first time the teams met November 20, seeing his team lose, 85-74.