Game ID: 22400254
Indiana Pacers @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 30 32 36 32 130IND 23 30 24 36 113
HOU vs IND ScoutingHOU vs IND Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 11/13 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 11 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 12 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Tate back 11/06 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 11)
HOU availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 13 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 11/10, returns tonight: 13 min (115% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 14 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 13 min since (115% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/08, returns tonight: 5 min (34% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 15 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 8 min since (68% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 16 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Dante missed 17 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/26 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 18 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (47% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 19 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 13)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
IND availability going into 11/13 · 2 days' restOUT Nembhard missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 4 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 11/08 after 6, 16 min since (114% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 35 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 11/08 after 6, 16 min since (114% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 15 to 21 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 11/08 after 6, 14 min since (102% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Sheppard 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 15 to 23 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Nembhard missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 11/08 after 6, 12 min since (89% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Sheppard 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 15 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Turner 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Mathurin 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Sheppard 18 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Walker 15 to 23 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 7 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Walker 15 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 8 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Walker 15 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/25 · back-to-backOUT Nembhard missed 9 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Mathurin 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Que. Jackson 14 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 10 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nesmith missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Mathurin 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Que. Jackson 14 to 24 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; VanVleet at 22 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mathurin at 24 and Siakam at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Nembhard (6 straight), Nesmith (8 straight), Isa. Jackson (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-13 a night and Indiana minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to Indiana's 116. Call it Houston 117, Indiana 108.
11/13 vs LAC 111-103 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-103. HOU shot 43% (42 of 97) to LAC's 40%, 15 of 40 from three. The glass went 59-42 for them. Green led with 21 (7 of 21, 5 of 14 from three); Thompson added 18, Eason 18. The hinge was Q2, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Landale was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/15 vs LAC 125-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 125-104. HOU shot 48% (46 of 95) to LAC's 38%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 33. Smith Jr. led with 28 (11 of 17, 5 of 8 from three); VanVleet added 18, Brooks 17. The hinge was Q2, 37-25: a lead of 8 became 20, and the lead reached 28. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +39.
11/17 @ CHI 143-107 — HOU notes
HOU won 143-107. HOU shot 52% (55 of 105) to CHI's 34%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 32 times to CHI's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 21. The glass went 66-47 for them. VanVleet led with 28 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sengun added 20, Ja. Green 18. The hinge was Q2, 41-26: a lead of 1 became 16, and the lead reached 39. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
11/18 @ MIL 100-101 — HOU notes
HOU lost 100-101. HOU took 17 more shots (100 to 83), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIL's 46%, 9 of 32 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIL's 19. The glass went 53-43 for them. VanVleet led with 26 (9 of 23, 3 of 11 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Sengun 18. Q3 was theirs, 35-26, the deficit cut from 12 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. They led by as many as 13.
11/20 vs IND 130-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 130-113. HOU shot 46% (47 of 102) to IND's 53%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 33 times to IND's 25 — 24 points from the stripe to their 20. HOU turned it over 13 times to IND's 23. The glass went 47-36 for them. Sengun led with 31 (12 of 19, 6 of 8 at the line); Smith Jr. added 23, VanVleet 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-24: a lead of 9 became 21, and the lead reached 24. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/22 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Grant at 14 a game. Without Simons (3 straight), Ayton (4 straight), Thybulle (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 21 times a game to Houston's 12 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Portland plus-0. Call it Houston 117, Portland 105, Houston by 12.
11/23 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and VanVleet at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Avdija at 12 a game. Without Ayton (5 straight), Thybulle (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 20 times a game to Houston's 13 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Portland plus-1. Call it Houston 116, Portland 104, Houston by 12.
11/26 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 25 a game. Without Conley (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Whitmore (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Minnesota minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Minnesota's 113. Call it Houston 113, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
11/27 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCain at 23 and Embiid at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without George (2 straight), Embiid (2 straight), Lowry (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 16 a game. Without Whitmore (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-5. Call it Houston 110, Philadelphia 105.
11/13 @ ORL 90-94 — IND notes
IND lost 90-94. IND shot 38% (32 of 84) to ORL's 40%, 10 of 30 from three. Siakam led with 25 (8 of 11, 4 of 6 from three); Mathurin added 23, Turner 11. Q1 was theirs, 27-18, but the other 3 periods went 76-63 against them. They led by as many as 12. Sheppard's -11 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/15 vs MIA 111-124 — IND notes
IND lost 111-124. IND shot 51% (44 of 86) to MIA's 52%, 14 of 35 from three, and got to the line 11 times to MIA's 23. IND turned it over 20 times to MIA's 10, and MIA turned those into 16 steals. Toppin led with 21 (8 of 10, 3 of 5 from three); Haliburton added 18, Siakam 14. Q1 was theirs, 29-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-82 against them. Turner's -29 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 vs MIA 119-110 — IND notes
IND won 119-110. IND shot 52% (44 of 85) to MIA's 40%, 13 of 29 from three. Turner led with 34 (14 of 23, 5 of 8 from three); Siakam added 23, Mathurin 21. The hinge was Q1, 28-20: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/18 @ TOR 119-130 — IND notes
IND lost 119-130. IND took 17 more shots (99 to 82), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to TOR's 59%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to TOR's 28. IND turned it over 10 times to TOR's 23. The glass went 32-46 against them. Mathurin led with 28 (10 of 16, 4 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Siakam added 25, Toppin 19. Q4 was theirs, 37-34, the deficit cut from 14 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 96-82 against them. Freeman's -18 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 @ HOU 113-130 — IND notes
IND lost 113-130. IND shot 53% (44 of 83) to HOU's 46%, 5 of 22 from three, and got to the line 25 times to HOU's 33. IND turned it over 23 times to HOU's 13, and HOU turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 36-47 against them. Jackson led with 24 (10 of 12, 1 of 3 from three); Siakam added 21, McConnell 17. Q4 was theirs, 36-32, the deficit cut from 21 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Haliburton's -28 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lopez at 19 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nembhard (7 straight), Nesmith (9 straight), Sheppard (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 105 a night to Indiana's 118 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 16 times a game to Milwaukee's 12. Call it Milwaukee 116, Indiana 109.
11/24 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Nembhard (8 straight), Nesmith (10 straight), Sheppard (3 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 23 and Kuzma at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (4 straight), Holmes (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Indiana 121, Washington 115.
11/25 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Mathurin at 19 a game. Without Nembhard (9 straight), Nesmith (11 straight), Sheppard (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without McCollum (13 straight), Murray (16 straight), Jones (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 37 percent from three to New Orleans's 32 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 114 a night to Indiana's 120. Call it Indiana 116, New Orleans 110.
11/27 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Haliburton at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Nembhard (10 straight), Nesmith (12 straight), Sheppard (5 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 111, shooting 38 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Avdija at 14 a game. Without Ayton (7 straight), Henderson (3 straight), Thybulle (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 120 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Indiana's 14. Call it Indiana 115, Portland 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
INDBM B. Mathurin
EF E. Freeman
JF J. Furphy
JJ J. Johnson
JW J. Walker
MB M. Brown
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
QJ Q. Jackson
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
IND/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Sengun scores season-high 31 as Rockets cruise to 130-113 win over Pacers
HOUSTON -- — Alperen Sengun had a season-high 31 points with 12 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 130-113 win over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.
The Rockets used a big run in the third quarter to push the lead to 21 entering the fourth and cruised to their sixth victory in seven games.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points for the Rockets for his second 20-point game in the last four, and Fred VanVleet had 18 points and six assists.
Quenton Jackson had a career-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting for the Pacers, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Pascal Siakam had 19 points at halftime but only scored two more points the rest of the way.
Takeaways Pacers: If Indiana is going to be successful this season, Tyrese Haliburton must be more effective. The two-time All-Star was 1 of 7 for four points after making just 5 of 18 shots against the Raptors on Monday.
Rockets: Houston has gotten off to a strong start this season thanks to a balanced scoring attack. The Rockets had five players in double figures as they improved to 11-5.
Key moment A dunk by Myles Turner got the Pacers within three with about eight minutes left in the third quarter before the Rockets used a 12-3 run, with 3s from VanVleet and Sengun, to make it 82-70 less than three minutes later.
Key stat The Pacers made just 5 of 22 3-pointers, while Houston made 12 of 36 attempts.
Up next The Rockets host the first of consecutive games against Portland on Friday night, the same night the Pacers visit Milwaukee.