Game ID: 22400882
Houston Rockets @ Indiana Pacers
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 30 37 23 25 115HOU 30 27 26 19 102
HOU @ IND ScoutingHOU @ 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.
IND availability going into 2/24 · back-to-backOUT Isa. Jackson missed 49 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 17 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Turner back 2/20 after 3, 32 min since (106% of 30)
NEW Bryant 13 to 22 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 50 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 18 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Turner back 2/20 after 3, 34 min since (114% of 30)
NEW Bryant 13 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT McConnell missed 2 since 2/24, returns tonight: 13 min (74% of 18)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 51 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 19 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Turner back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (110% of 30)
IND availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 52 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 20 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Turner back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (111% of 30)
BACK McConnell back 2/28 after 2, 13 min since (74% of 18)
IND availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 53 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 21 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK McConnell back 2/28 after 2, 15 min since (83% of 18)
IND availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 54 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 22 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK McConnell back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (80% of 18)
IND availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 2/28, returns tonight: 40 min (148% of 27)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 55 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 23 since 1/10, returns tonight: 13 min (98% of 14)
BACK McConnell back 2/28 after 2, 17 min since (97% of 18)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 31 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Haliburton missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 56 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 3/08 after 4, 40 min since (148% of 27)
BACK McConnell back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (78% of 18)
BACK Que. Jackson back 3/08 after 23, 13 min since (98% of 14)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Haliburton missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 32 min (94% of 34)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 57 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 3/08 after 4, 31 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Que. Jackson back 3/08 after 23, 14 min since (101% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 9 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 57 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 34 min since (116% of 29)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 21 min since (184% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 13 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Landale 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 10 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 19 min (128% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (115% of 29)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 11 since 2/03, returns tonight: 35 min (97% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (114% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 19 min since (128% of 15)
NEW Holiday 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 60 since 10/23, returns tonight: 19 min (146% of 13)
BACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 31 min since (106% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Thompson 32 to 37 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Sheppard 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 5 since 3/03, returns tonight: 28 min (77% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Siakam at 20 a game. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (53 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-3. Call it Indiana 117, Houston 112.
2/24 vs DEN 116-125 — IND notes
IND lost 116-125. IND shot 47% (40 of 85) to DEN's 56%, 14 of 43 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DEN's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 32-46 against them. Turner led with 23 (7 of 18, 2 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Haliburton added 19, Siakam 19. Q4 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 100-83 against them. Nembhard's -21 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs TOR 111-91 — IND notes
IND won 111-91. IND shot 53% (43 of 81) to TOR's 43%, 15 of 37 from three. Haliburton led with 33 (12 of 15, 7 of 9 from three); Turner added 18, Siakam 15. The hinge was Q2, 25-17: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 21. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
2/28 @ MIA 120-125 — IND notes
IND lost 120-125. IND shot 53% (47 of 88) to MIA's 57%, 21 of 39 from three. Siakam led with 36 (13 of 21, 8 of 11 from three); Turner added 22, Haliburton 19. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 96-85 against them. They led by as many as 12. Sheppard's -14 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 vs CHI 127-112 — IND notes
IND won 127-112. IND shot 55% (48 of 87) to CHI's 50%, 19 of 44 from three. Nesmith led with 27 (9 of 16, 6 of 11 from three); Siakam added 20, Haliburton 17. The hinge was Q4, 32-20: a lead of 3 became 15. IND trailed 66-67 at the half and won the second half 61-45. Nesmith was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
3/04 vs HOU 115-102 — IND notes
IND won 115-102. IND shot 51% (44 of 86) to HOU's 41%, 17 of 42 from three, and got to the line 10 times to HOU's 26. The glass went 35-58 against them. Haliburton led with 28 (9 of 16, 5 of 8 from three); Siakam added 18, Nesmith 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-27: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/06 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; LeVert at 20 and Young at 17 a game. Without Johnson (18 straight), Krejčí (8 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Siakam at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (54 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-2 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it Indiana 118, Atlanta 116, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/08 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 20 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Johnson (19 straight), Krejčí (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 14 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Haliburton at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (4 straight), Isa. Jackson (55 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 128 and the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-3 a night and Indiana minus-8. Call it Indiana 120, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/10 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; White at 28 and Giddey at 20 a game. Without Vučević (7 straight), Williams (9 straight), Ball (4 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Haliburton at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Haliburton (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (56 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-9 and the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Chicago's 29. Call it Indiana 119, Chicago 118, Chicago keeping it close.
3/11 vs MIL — 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 116, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nesmith at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Haliburton (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (57 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Portis (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-12 a night and Indiana minus-11 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 11. Call it Milwaukee 116, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
2/25 vs MIL 100-97 — HOU notes
HOU won 100-97. HOU shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIL's 40%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 53-37 for them. Ja. Green led with 25 (9 of 20, 5 of 11 from three); Sengun added 23, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q1, 30-25: from level to 5 ahead. HOU trailed 57-59 at the half and won the second half 43-38. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/26 vs SAS 118-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-106. HOU shot 47% (48 of 102) to SAS's 42%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to SAS's 21. HOU turned it over 14 times to SAS's 8, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 60-41 for them. Thompson led with 25 (12 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/01 vs SAC 103-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 103-113. HOU shot 43% (37 of 86) to SAC's 51%, 13 of 35 from three. Sengun led with 30 (10 of 16, 10 of 17 at the line); Green added 24, Eason 14. Q2 was theirs, 38-38, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. Brooks's -14 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ OKC 128-137 — HOU notes
HOU lost 128-137. HOU shot 49% (49 of 101) to OKC's 49%, 16 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to OKC's 27. Whitmore led with 27 (10 of 19, 4 of 6 from three); Sheppard added 25, Ja. Green 18. Q4 was theirs, 39-35, the deficit cut from 13 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 102-89 against them. Sheppard's -12 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 @ IND 102-115 — HOU notes
HOU lost 102-115. HOU took 12 more shots (98 to 86), fed by 24 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to IND's 51%, 9 of 30 from three, and went to the line 26 times to IND's 10 — 13 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 58-35 for them. Sengun led with 25 (12 of 19); Eason added 16, Thompson 13. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 92-76 against them. Green's -22 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/08 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
3/10 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 24 and Brooks at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (4 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and Orlando minus-6 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Houston's 21. Call it Houston 114, Orlando 110, Orlando keeping it close.
3/12 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Ighodaro (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Phoenix's 124. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NW N. Williams
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BS B. Sheppard
JF J. Furphy
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
TB T. Bradley
TB T. Bryant
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
HOU/IND 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
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers recover from blown lead, close out the Rockets 115-102
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Tyrese Haliburton scored 28 points and matched a season high with 15 assists, and the Indiana Pacers recovered after blowing a 17-point third-quarter lead to beat the Houston Rockets 115-102 on Tuesday night.
Pascal Siakam scored 18 points and Myles Turner added 16 for the Pacers, who have won six of eight.
Alperen Sengun scored 25 points and Tari Eason had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who dropped their third in a row.
Indiana led 90-73 with three minutes left in the third quarter but immediately allowed a 15-0 run by Houston. The Rockets pushed ahead 96-95 on a layup by Amen Thompson with 8:45 left in the fourth, but Aaron Nesmith responded with a three-point play that kicked off an 18-3 run by the Pacers.
Takeaways Rockets: They were 32-14 on Jan. 28 but have lost 11 of their past 16 games.
Pacers: Six of their next seven games are on the road. The stretch includes home and away meetings with Milwaukee, which beat Atlanta Tuesday night to remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, with the same record as fifth-place Indiana (35-25).
Key moment Ben Sheppard made a 3-pointer — his first basket of the game — early in the fourth quarter to stop Houston's 15-0 run and give Indiana a five-point advantage.
Key stat Haliburton reached double digits in assists for the sixth straight game, his longest such streak this season. He entered averaging 8.8 assists per game after leading the league in that category last season at 10.9.
Up next Rockets: At New Orleans on Thursday night.