featured-image

Game Preview: Pacers at Rockets

Matchup

After falling in the first game of their five-game road trip on Saturday night, the Pacers now need to collect road wins to keep themselves from dropping in a tightening playoff race.

The loss against Miami had extra sting to it since it gave the Heat the season series win, and with Miami charging towards the postseason, that tiebreaker might come into play come April.

But with Saturday's game behind them, the Pacers (30-29) look ahead to a team they beat less than a month ago: the Houston Rockets (42-18).

Led by MVP-candidate James Harden, the Rockets have been one of the most explosive offensive teams in the NBA this season. But during their January visit to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Harden was hounded by Paul George to the tune of 3-of-17 shooting as the Pacers cruised to a 120-101 victory.

Since the All-Star break, however, George has had a peculiar two-game stretch. Against the Grizzlies, George had only his second single-digit scoring game of the season. Then, during Saturday's game against the Heat, George was ejected for the second time this season after picking up a pair of technical fouls.

"I've got to be better," George said to the Indianapolis Star about his ejection. "That’s the only thing I can say about that. I’ve got to be better."

Indiana's margin of error is slim on its road trip, with its next three games against teams that are in the top five of their respective conferences.

Projected Starters

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague

Paul George

Paul George

C.J. Miles

C.J. Miles

Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young

Myles Turner

Myles Turner

James Harden

James Harden

Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley

Trevor Ariza

Trevor Ariza

Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson

Clint Capela

Clint Capela

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Paul George, SF - C.J. Miles, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Rockets: PG - James Harden, SG - Patrick Beverley, SF - Trevor Ariza, PF - Ryan Anderson, C - Clint Capela

Injury Report

Pacers: Al Jefferson - questionable (dental work)

Rockets: None

Last Meeting

January 29, 2017: In front of a roaring home crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers captured one of their biggest wins of the year, beating the Rockets 120-101.

Paul George was in a rhythm all night offensively, but made his biggest impact knocking All-Star James Harden off of his game. Harden went just 3-of-17 from the field and was guarded almost exclusively by George for the entire game.

"I thought it was great," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said of George's defensive performance. "James Harden is such a hard guard. He's good at drawing fouls and if Paul got a couple, we would have switched Jeff (Teague) on him. We started with Paul and just matched his minutes with Harden. He stayed in front of him. He had contested shots. Paul's length on James and the way we wanted to guard, Paul was the best guy for the job."

Aside from George's defense, the Pacers were helped by yet another table-setting performance from Teague, whose game-high 15 assists had Indiana's offense breaking out in transition and moving the ball around the perimeter to the open man.

Noteworthy

  • If the Pacers win, it will be their first season sweep over the Rockets since the 2012-13 season.
  • Rockets guard Eric Gordon went to high school at Indianapolis' North Central and played collegiately at Indiana University.
  • Pacers guard Aaron Brooks won Most Improved Player as a member of the Rockets in 2010.

Tickets

Following their five-games road trip, the Pacers return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 8 for a meeting with a Central Division foe, the Detroit Pistons. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: TNT - Brent Barry (host), Grant Hill (analyst), Derek Fisher (analyst), Lisa Leslie (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Away Game Night Special

Hickory H Bill Hat - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »