The Indiana Pacers are on the brink of transforming into the formidable unit the front office had envisioned.
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With the recent inclusion of Pascal Siakam, who appears to be settling in seamlessly with the team, the Indiana Pacers are on the brink of transforming into the formidable unit the front office had envisioned.
On Sunday, Siakam marked his 10th appearance with the Indiana team following his transfer from the Toronto Raptors last month. He came tantalizingly close to achieving his second triple-double during this stretch, contributing 25 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in a decisive 115-99 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets, putting an end to a three-game losing streak.
As the Pacers gear up to face the Houston Rockets in Indianapolis on Tuesday, they’ve been diligently integrating not only Siakam but also orchestrating the return of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton, who missed 10 games due to a hamstring injury, is gradually finding his rhythm despite being on a minutes restriction. In a commendable performance against the Hornets, he managed to score 17 points in just 20 minutes on the court.
For the Pacers, Mathurin (toe injury) and Smith (back injury) might not be available for the game. As for the Rockets, Adams (knee injury), Eason (leg injury), and VanVleet (groin injury) will not be playing the game.
Despite finding success the previous week by employing a high-speed offensive strategy, the Rockets struggled to dictate the tempo in Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They ended up on the losing side, with a final score of 111-90, marking the start of a challenging four-game road trip.
Even though Houston managed to produce 23 points in fastbreak situations, it proved insufficient to compensate for their overall shooting struggles at 35.2 percent. Their challenges were particularly evident in the paint, where they went 19-for-48, grappling against the formidable frontcourt lineup of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jaden McDaniels from the Timberwolves.
For the Rockets to execute their desired up-tempo style, they must excel in rebounding and create turnovers. While Houston managed to score 18 points off 16 turnovers, a significant portion of those points, precisely 13, were accumulated in the second quarter. During this period, the Timberwolves committed nine turnovers, allowing Houston to erase a 12-point deficit. However, when considering the Timberwolves’ substantial plus-17 rebounding advantage, it becomes evident why the Rockets struggled to dictate the tempo.
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