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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Damian Lillard hit a driving layup with 3.9 seconds left to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 101-100 victory over Houston that snapped the Rockets’ five-game winning streak Monday night.
Lillard scored 18 points after missing the previous three games while in the concussion protocol.
The Rockets rallied from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter and stayed ahead until Lillard’s decisive basket. Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by Houston's Alperen Sengun with 20 seconds left.
Houston called timeout after Lillard's layup. After the Bucks fouled with 2 seconds left, Houston’s Fred VanVleet tried inbounding the ball to Sengun, who couldn’t catch it cleanly under the basket. VanVleet unsuccessfully tried passing to Jabari Smith Jr. as the horn sounded.
Brook Lopez had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
VanVleet scored 26 points, Jalen Green 21 and Sengun 18 for Houston.
Takeaways
Rockets: One night after a 143-107 victory at Chicago in which they were one point shy of the NBA’s highest scoring total this season, the Rockets were held to their fewest points of the season.
Bucks: Since a 2-8 start, Milwaukee has won three of four. Lopez briefly went in the locker room after taking a hard fall early in the second quarter, but he returned later that period and delivered one of his best games of the season.
Key moment
The Bucks trailed 100-96 when A.J. Green buried a 3-pointer to cut the margin to one with 1:17 left.
Key stat
Houston shot just 9 of 32 on 3-pointers and had its lowest field-goal percentage (.400) of the season.
Up next
Both teams play Wednesday, with the Rockets hosting Indiana and the Bucks hosting Chicago.