GAME PREVIEW
Top storylines as Rockets look to rebound in battle with Pacers
Nov 19, 2024, 4:27 pm
The Rockets host the Pacers on Wednesday night. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
The Houston Rockets aim to extend their impressive five-game home winning streak as they host the Indiana Pacers. The Rockets have thrived at Toyota Center, holding a 6-2 home record and sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings.
The Rockets' dominance in the paint has been a cornerstone of their success, ranking third in the Western Conference with 53.3 points per game in the paint. Alperen Şengün continues to lead the way inside, averaging 17.5 points and 11.6 points in the paint.
On the other hand, the Pacers have struggled on the road, posting a 2-6 record away from Indiana. Defense remains a challenge, with the Pacers surrendering 117.6 points per game and being outscored by 3.2 points on average this season. Tyrese Haliburton leads Indiana, contributing 16.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Both teams rely heavily on their three-point shooting. Houston averages 11.7 made threes per game, while Indiana allows 13.1. Meanwhile, the Pacers are hitting 12.6 threes per game, slightly outpacing the Rockets’ perimeter defense.
Recent Form
- Rockets: Houston is 7-3 in its last 10 games, averaging 115.1 points per game while holding opponents to 105.6 points on 46.0% shooting.
- Pacers: Indiana has gone 5-5 in its last 10, scoring 115.9 points but allowing 117.7 points per game on 48.7% opponent shooting.
Injury Report
- Rockets: Cam Whitmore (day-to-day, knee).
- Pacers: Myles Turner (day-to-day, calf), Aaron Nesmith (out, ankle), Andrew Nembhard (out, knee), Isaiah Jackson (out, calf), James Wiseman (out, calf), Ben Sheppard (day-to-day, oblique).
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.