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Pacers vs Rockets: Houston is tough to beat at home
Both the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets have made significant leaps this season, and anything is possible when these two teams meet on Tuesday night at Toyota Center.
Are the Pacers a playoff team?
The Indiana Pacers made a lot of noise this season, advancing to the final of the In-Season Tournament, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently, they are eighth in the Western Conference with a 14-14 record. Indiana has lost 6 of the last 7 games and is coming off a 117-110 loss to the Orlando Magic. The Pacers are the highest-scoring team in the league, averaging 126.5 points per game. Tyrese Haliburton leads the league with 12.2 assists per game, and he also scores 24.5 points per game.
Can the Rockets keep up the tempo?
The Houston Rockets made a couple of roster changes in the offseason and added a couple of quality rookies, and things look way better for them. They are eighth in the Western Conference with a 15-12 record. The Rockets have one of the best home records in the NBA, with 12 wins in 14 home games. After losing three straight games, the Rockets bounced back with two wins over Dallas and New Orleans.
Betting Trends
The Pacers have won the last 7 games against the Rockets and are 5-2 ATS in them. The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Central Division.
Is Haliburton a Top 10 player in the league?
Tyrese Haliburton was seen as a role player when he arrived from the Sacramento Kings in Indiana, but the point guard has made miracles happen since he joined the Pacers. Going into this season, the Pacers signed him to a five-year, $260 million contract extension, and Haliburton proved them right. He is a versatile scorer and leads the league in assists, but he needs to make the Pacers a winning team before being considered a top 10 player in the league.
Injury Reports
Victor Oladipo and Reggie Bullock are out for the Rockets while the Pacers have their full roster available.
Prediction and Conclusion
This is a matchup between two teams on the rise, and the Rockets get into it as 2.5-point favorites. Houston is playing excellent at home, winning 12 of 14 games at Toyota Center, but that record seems pretty unreal. The Pacers are struggling lately and need to bounce back in order to get to a winning record. Indiana knows how to win in Houston, as they have done that in the last 7 visits, and even if they fail to do so tonight, they will most likely cover the spread.
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