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PACERS vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS Tonight at 7:00, Conseco Fieldhouse TV: Fox Sports Indiana Radio: 1070 The Fan Video preview | Injury Report presented by Ortho Indy | Tickets |
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Jim O'Brien |
Scouting Report
With six of the next seven at home and a roster at close to full strength, now's the time for the Pacers to begin a reversal of fortunes and climb the ladder back into playoff contention in the East. Not that the home games represent a soft touch. Though the Rockets (27-16) are playing shorthanded due to injuries to Tracy McGrady (knee) and Ron Artest (ankle), they've won three straight and four of five without the two stars. The Pacers won in Houston 91-90 on Nov. 26, overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win on Danny Granger's tip-in with 13 seconds left.
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Rick Adelman |
 Jarrett Jack |
Point Guard
Coming off his least effective stint as the starter (four points and two assists in 13 minutes at San Antonio), Jarrett Jack will likely remain in the lineup due to T.J. Ford's stiff back. Jack plays with a dogged determination but sometimes struggles with decision-making. Rafer Alston has been vital to Houston's recent surge without Artest and McGrady, averaging 21.0 points, 7.0 assists and shooting .511 overall and 10-of-20 from the 3-point line in their current three-game win streak.
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 Rafer Alston |
 Mike Dunleavy |
Shooting Guard
The offense generally flows better when Mike Dunleavy on the floor and will take it up another notch when he regains his shooting legs. Though he has averaged 15.0 points in four games since returning to the starting lineup, he has shot 21-of-55 (.382) from the field. You may not know much about Von Wafer – other than he's half of the Rafer-and-Wafer show – but he has emerged in a big way while filling in at shooting guard. The 6-5 former Florida State standout has averaged 18.8 points in the last five while shooting 50 percent from the field. In the last 10, he has totaled 169 points – a full 103 more than he'd totaled in three previous NBA seasons.
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 Von Wafer |
 Danny Granger |
Small Forward
Danny Granger may not be shooting well at the moment (.354 overall in the last four) but we won't let it affect his confidence or his approach. He's coming off an uncharacteristic performance in San Antonio in which he failed to attempt a 3-pointer (he averaged 6.7 per game) and did not score at least 20 points for the first time in 17 games. He'll face another challenge against Shane Battier, a glue player whose primary contributions are strong defense, relentless hustle and timely 3-point shooting.
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 Shane Battier |
 Troy Murphy |
Power Forward
Though his streak of four consecutive double-doubles came to an end against the Spurs, Troy Murphy did pull 10 rebounds and continues to be remarkably consistent on the boards and reliable from the 3-point line. Luis Scola's stats don't jump off the page (11.6 points, 7.8 rebounds) but he's been invaluable to the Rockets. They've gone 58-24 with him in the lineup dating back to last season.
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 Luis Scola |
 Jeff Foster |
Center
Though he's on the injury report with a sprained right shoulder, Jeff Foster is probable which means you can count on him to start, which is good news because the Pacers need all the bodies they can throw at Yao Ming. Foster has struggled of late, totaling five points with 11 rebounds in the last two games. As the Rockets have needed more, Yao has provided more. In the last three games he has averaged 25.3 points while making 77 percent of his shots (30-of-39). All that has stopped him is foul trouble – he has 10 in the last two games.
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 Yao Ming |
 T.J. Ford |
Bench
With two days off between games, there's a chance both T.J. Ford (back) and Marquis Daniels (groin) will be much closer to full strength, which would give the Pacers a major lift off the bench. Without having to lean on Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, it's possible the rookies may be able to progress at a more natural rate. The Rockets get steady production from the electrifying Aaron Brooks and veteran Brent Barry outside and former Purdue standout Carl Landry inside.
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 Carl Landry |
