Monday’s four-game NBA slate includes three East vs. West matchups, with the second featuring a meeting between the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers, two teams currently riding positive momentum.
Houston has gone 4-1 over its last five contests. Indiana, meanwhile, owns a rough 13-36 overall record but has played better recently, going 7-5 over its past 12 games, including a three-game winning streak, and enters this matchup on a two-game win streak.
Here’s a preview of this game, scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff.
Rockets vs Pacers Odds
Moneyline: Rockets (-220) vs Pacers (+180)
Spread: Rockets -5.5 (-110) vs Pacers +5.5 (-110)
Total (O/U): Rockets o218.5 (-110) vs Pacers u218.5 (-110)
Editor’s note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.
Rockets vs Pacers Preview and Prediction
Preview
This matchup brings together two teams trending in opposite directions, both of which will be without their starting point guards for the remainder of the season, as the Fred VanVleet-less Rockets travel to face the Tyrese Haliburton-less Pacers.
Offensively, neither team impressed in January, with both ranking inside the bottom 10 in offensive rating. During that stretch, Houston posted a 10-7 record, while Indiana went 7-8.
Despite their offensive struggles, the Pacers led the league in assist percentage during the month, whereas the Rockets ranked seventh-worst in that category.
Defensively, however, the roles reversed, with Houston finishing eighth in defensive rating over that span, while Indiana landed outside the top 15.
All-Star Pascal Siakam has been the focal point for the Pacers, averaging 23.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Andrew Nembhard has been the lone Indiana player besides Siakam to start every game he’s played, contributing steady backcourt production with 17.6 points and 7.5 assists per contest.
Kevin Durant has delivered strong numbers for the Rockets, posting 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, but he will miss this contest along with VanVleet and Steven Adams.
Alperen Sengun, despite being left off the All-Star reserve list, continues to lead Houston with 21.0 points per game and a team-high 6.4 assists.
Prediction
Even with Durant sidelined, Houston still has enough firepower to secure a comfortable win, with Sengun and Amen Thompson expected to carry the load.
Our prediction: Rockets win by 17.
Rockets vs Pacers Player Props
- Pascal Siakam O/U 22.5 points – Take the over.
- Alperen Sengun O/U 23.5 points – Take the over.
- Amen Thompson O/U 19.5 points – Take the under.
- Andrew Nembhard O/U 15.5 points – Take the over.
