How Rockets will look to snap road skid against Pacers
ROCKETS VS. PACERS
04 March
ROCKETS VS. PACERS
The Houston Rockets (37-24) travel to Indianapolis on Tuesday to take on the Indiana Pacers (34-25) as they aim to end their seven-game road losing streak.
Indiana has been strong at home, posting an 18-10 record while averaging 116.6 points per game. Pascal Siakam has been a key contributor, averaging 21.3 points and 7.2 rebounds over his last 10 games. Myles Turner continues to be a force in the paint, scoring 15.5 points per game while pulling down 6.5 rebounds.
Houston, despite recent road struggles, leads the Western Conference in offensive rebounding (14.6 per game). Alperen Sengun continues to anchor the Rockets’ attack, averaging 19.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Jalen Green has also provided a scoring boost, averaging 3.5 made three-pointers over his last 10 games.
Both teams have played .500 basketball or better over their last 10 games, with the Pacers going 6-4 and the Rockets sitting at 5-5. Indiana has thrived offensively, shooting 49.6% from the field during that span, while Houston has relied on its rebounding advantage to stay competitive.
Injury concerns could play a factor, with the Rockets dealing with several day-to-day absences, including Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Dillon Brooks. The Pacers will be without Isaiah Jackson for the season, and Bennedict Mathurin’s status remains uncertain.
Houston will need to improve its shooting efficiency and limit Indiana’s fast-paced offense if it hopes to leave Indianapolis with a much-needed road victory. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.