Houston Rockets are riding a wave of momentum, having recently defeated the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, securing two consecutive victories and climbing to fourth place in the Western Conference. Their defensive performance has been particularly impressive, limiting Cleveland's potent offence to just 100 points, only the third time this season the Cavaliers have been held to such a low score. However, the Rockets have a history of underperforming against weaker opponents, a factor they must address when facing the bottom-placed Indiana Pacers. Avoiding complacency will be crucial for the Rockets. The matchup between Kevin Durant and Pascal Siakam will be a key point of interest. Durant, the Rockets' offensive linchpin, has averaged 30 points and 7 assists in his last 10 games, demonstrating remarkable consistency in both scoring and playmaking. Indiana Pacers are mired in an eight-game losing streak, following a comprehensive defeat on the road against the Miami Heat, where they struggled on both offense and defense. The team's offensive structure has collapsed since the season-ending injury to Tyrese Haliburton, relying on individual efforts from Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin to generate offense. Their defense has been porous, and their away record is a dismal 1 win and 14 losses. Despite this, the return of Jalen Smith offers a glimmer of hope.