Rockets Travel to Indy, Face-Off Against Pacers
Road Desperation. Keep Pace. Defensive Mindset.
The Rockets, desperate for a road win, visit the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in the second match of their four-game trip. Houston is coming off a blowout loss in Minnesota to the Timberwolves. Indiana is coming off a road win over the Hornets, snapping a three-game losing streak for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton is once again questionable for this contest. The All-Star guard recently returned from an injury, but he’s been on a minutes restriction over his last four games, not playing over 22 minutes since returning. Haliburton’s questionable tonight due to left hamstring strain injury management, but it remains to be seen if Indy will hold out their young star. Regardless if he plays, the Pacers are an offensive juggernaut, leading the NBA in scoring. Indy presents a tough matchup for a Rockets team that’s struggling mightily on the road. Houston will look to get back on track and win their sixth road game of the season tonight, but they’ll have to keep pace with Indiana’s offense.
If Haliburton plays, he’ll be the primary focal point of Indy’s offense. The Pacers have plenty of other weapons as well. Center Myles Turner is having another solid season, and possesses the kind of size that may give Alperen Sengun issues in the paint. Indiana won the first matchup back in Houston the day after Christmas, in a close affair, 123-117. Since then, the Pacers made one of the big trades in the NBA, acquiring All-Star forward Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. Siakam is one of the league’s best two-way players. He will likely induce headaches for this Rockets roster, including former teammate Fred VanVleet. FVV and Siakam were teammates on Toronto’s 2019 team that won the Championship. Hopefully VanVleet has some inside information on how to stop one of his former longtime teammates.
If Houston wants any chance to pull the upset in Indy tonight, they need to come into this match with a defensive mindset. The Pacers have the league’s best offense, and while they may not play much defense, they have been largely successful at outscoring their opponents. The Rockets have shown that they struggle mightily shooting the three, and in general offensively on the road. That will need to chance tonight if Houston wants any chance at their sixth road victory. Aaron Nesmith has been on a tear recently for Indiana. The Rockets can’t let the young guard get going, or it could be another long night on the road for Houston. Tonight’s matchup doesn’t pose the imposing size challenge the Rockets faced in Minnesota, but the Pacers are still a playoff-bound team with a lot of firepower. Houston aims to slow down Indy’s horses tonight, as the Rockets are in desperate search for a road win.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Indianapolis, Indiana
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (23-26): White
Indiana Pacers (28-23): Navy
Tip-Off: 6:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass