The improving Houston Rockets look to get the better of the struggling Indiana Pacers. It’s also a classic clash of defense and offense.

Catch the game tomorrow at 9:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Indiana Pacers (6-8, 2-6 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Andrew Nembhard
  • Aaron Nesmith
  • Pascal Siakam 
  • Myles Turner

The Pacers are still looking for rhythm. While the scheme and personnel from last year’s booming offense is there, things just aren’t translating like before. They are 1-3 in their last four, with the recent loss coming against the 3-12 Toronto Raptors.

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (16.1 PPG, 8.5 APG, 38.3 FG%), who entered the season with plenty of hype from his previous resurgence, is regressing. He’s been inefficient and has also fallen behind Pascal Siakam (20.5 PPG), Ben Mathurin (19.6 PPG), and Myles Turner (17.6 PPG) in scoring. Some reports say his back injury from last season is still disrupting his play.

With Hali being cold all season, and Turner being day-to-day with an injury, Siakam and Mathurin will come in as the team’s two biggest threats. They’ll be an intriguing matchup vs. the Rockets defense.

Indy scores 114.3 PPG and gives up 117.6 on the other end.

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HOME: Houston Rockets (10-5, 6-2 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Fred VanVleet
  • Jalen Green
  • Dillon Brooks
  • Jabari Smith Jr.
  • Alperen Sengun

The Rockets are looking to return to the win column. They had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in a close battle, 101-100.

Defense is the established identity of the group, something that has been evident dating back to last season. Houston currently ranks top 3 in points allowed and defensive rating, and is still paired with an offense led by athletic scorer Jalen Green (19.7 PPG) and the Nikola Jokic-esque big man Alperen Sengun (17.1 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.4 BPG).

 The rest of the gang is also shaping up to have balanced contributions, namely veteran floor general Fred VanVleet, renowned pest Dillon Brooks, defensive second-year swingman Amen Thompson, forward Tari Eason, stretch forward rim protector Jabari Smith Jr. The third scorer has been mostly unpredictable, and it’s been a challenge to defenses.

Houston is averaging 113.6 PPG and only gives up 105.7 in return.

PICKS:

Spread: Pacers (+6.5)

Over/Under: Over (232) 

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