Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 8:00 PM ET at Toyota Center
Game Preview
The top statistical offensive team in the NBA will take on the second-best defensive unit in a post-Christmas clash.
On Tuesday, the Indiana Pacers (14-14) return from a brief two-day holiday rest to take on the Rockets (15-12) in Houston.
The Pacers have won seven straight games against the Rockets, but earning an eighth in a row will prove challenging.
So far this season, the Pacers have the top offensive rating in the NBA and the Rockets rank second in defensive rating. While the Pacers are averaging a league-best 126.5 points per game, the Rockets are giving up the second-fewest points at 107.7 on average.
One major area of concern for the Blue & Gold will be on the glass, as the Rockets are ranked fifth in the league in rebounding while the Pacers are 29th. When the Pacers get outrebounded, they’re 7-11 this season.
Houston has a much different look this season, including the additions of new head coach Ime Udoka, former All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet, and defensive stalwart Dillon Brooks.
VanVleet, who played his first seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors before signing with the Rockets, has played well in 2023-24 thus far, averaging 17.1 points, 8.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds. Third-year guard Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, also scores 17.1 per game.
Rockets center Aleperen Sengun is having a breakout season, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. The 6-foot-11, 21-year-old from Turkey is also shooting a career-bet 53.3 percent from the field.
Indiana enters the game losing six of its last seven games, including two straight. Over the last seven games, the Pacers are averaging 120 points per game while giving up 128.7.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has continued to lead the Pacers’ high-flying offense, averaging 24.5 points on 50 percent shooting and a league-high 12.2 assists per game this season.
On Saturday against the Orlando Magic (17-11), a 117-110 loss, the Pacers fell behind 73-59 at halftime, but were able to narrow the gap to 93-92 by the end of the third quarter thanks to a 15-point outburst from center Myles Turner.
In the final frame, the Magic used an 11–3 run midway through the fourth quarter to build a buffer before holding on for the win. The Pacers scored just 18 points in the final 12 minutes.
Haliburton led the Pacers with 29 points and 14 assists, Turner scored 24 and Buddy Hield drained five 3-pointers en route to 20 points.
Orlando outscored Indiana 64-40 in the paint and outrebounded the Pacers 39-33.
The Pacers were without starter Bruce Brown on Saturday, who missed his first game of the season due to a right knee bone bruise. Second-year guard Andrew Nembhard started in place of Brown, whose status will be updated closer to game time on Tuesday.
Houston also played on Saturday, winning a second straight game by edging the New Orleans Pelicans (17-13) 106-104. Sengun led the Rockets with 37 points and 11 rebounds in the win, and Jabari Smith Jr. posted 26 points and 11 boards.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Obi Toppin, C - Myles Turner
Rockets: G - Jalen Green, G - Fred VanVleet, F - Jabari Smith Jr., F - Dillon Brooks, C - Alperen Sengun
Injury Report
Pacers: Bruce Brown - out (right knee bone bruise)
Rockets: Victor Oladipo - out (left patellar tendon repair)
Last Meeting
March 9, 2023: In an overtime thriller, the Pacers outlasted the Rockets 134-125 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Tyrese Haliburton scored the team’s final 12 points in extra time en route to recording a team-high 29 points while also registering a career-high 19 assists. The 19 assists tied the fourth-most by an individual Pacer in a game in franchise history, trailing just Don Buse (20), Jalen Rose (20) and Jamaal Tinsley (23).
Houston used a 15-2 run to take a one-point, 110-109, lead for the first time in the game with 4:10 left in regulation. With the Pacers up by three points, with four seconds remaining, Jabari Smith Jr. hit a fading 3-pointer from the right side of the arc for the Rockets to force extra minutes.
In extra time, however, the Pacers put on the finishing touches for the win.
After Haliburton, Turner had 21 points, five rebounds and seven blocks, Jordan Nwora scored 18 points, and Hield had 17 points and seven rebounds.
Smith topped the Rockets with 30 points and 12 rebounds, Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, finished with 24 points and Kenyon Martin Jr. totaled 23 points to lead the Rockets.
Noteworthy
- Two former Pacers are on the Rockets this season: Victor Oladipo and Aaron Holiday. Holiday has come off the bench for the Rockets this season and Oladipo hasn’t played yet due to a left patellar tendon repair.
- The Rockets and Pacers have actually already played during 2023-24. In a preseason matchup on Oct. 10, the Rockets beat the Pacers 122-103 in Houston.
- Pacers guard Buddy Hield needs one 3-pointer to pass Rashard Lewis (1,787 career threes) for 25th place on the NBA's all-time list.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>