How To Watch Indiana Pacers-Houston Rockets, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines & More

A preview of Monday’s NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets.

Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith (23) returned to action after being out of the lineup for weeks and should continue ramping up towards playing major minutes. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Pacers are 0-8 in their quest to get head coach Rick Carlisle’s his 1,000th regular-season win as a head coach, coming up painfully short a few times but mostly getting blown out without mercy. The last two teams Indiana has faced have managed to reach 140 points on the scoreboard, so the Rockets will be looking to have a big night at home as they close out 2025.

The Rockets won’t play again until New Year’s night, where they’ll be in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the first NBA game to be played in ‘26. Houston has won its last two games against the Lakers and Cavs by 40 combined points, while the Pacers have dropped six of their eight on this current skid by double-digits. Five of the losses have come by 17 or more.

The Pacers did welcome Aaron Nesmith back in South Florida and got big games from Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, so the hope is they’ll at least be able to hang around and be more competitive than they’ve been over the past few weeks. After starting 0-5, Indiana posted a win over Golden State on Nov. 1 before dropping eight in a row, so unless it is able to pull off an upset, it will eclipse its longest losing streak of the season in failing to improve the league’s worst record.

Indiana has won only once in 15 road games, while the Rockets own won of the NBA’s top home records at 9-2. 

Vitals - How to Watch Pacers at Rockets

Game date, time and location: Monday, Dec. 29, 8:10 p.m. EST, Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (Pacers), Space City Home Network (Rockets)

Radio: 1070 The Fan (Pacers), Sportstalk 790 (Rockets)

Pacers hope being back near full strength will help spark resurgence

The Indiana Pacers (6-26) visit the Houston Rockets (19-10) in the first of two meetings this season. With Nesmith back and T.J. McConnell cleared to play, Carlisle will have those key cogs available alongside Siakam, Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin. 

An immediate fix isn’t likely, but the Pacers will get an opportunity to work against an elite defense as they try to get back on track following a rough stretch since posting a 116-105 win over Sacramento on Dec. 8. 

Houston and Indiana will wrap up their season series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb. 2. The Pacers have crushed Houston since 2020, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings. Houston ended Indiana’s nine-game win streak in the series in last season’s only meeting at Toyota Center, but were defeated in the most recent matchup 115-102 as Tyrese Haliburton finished with 28 points and 15 assists.

Center Alperen Sengun led Houston in scoring in both of last season’s games but has been ruled out. The Rockets had won nine of the final 12 meetings in the last decade. Indiana trails the all-time series 58-47 since entering the league from the ABA in 1976. Houston won seven of the first eight contests.

Betting Lines (via DraftKings) 

Spread: Rockets -15.5 (-115) Pacers +15.5 (-105)

Moneyline: Rockets -1050, Pacers +675

Total: 221.5 (Over -115, Under -105)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

PROJECTED STARTERS

PACERS

F Bennedict Mathurin

F Pascal Siakam

C Jay Huff

G Andrew Nembhard

G Johnny Furphy

ROCKETS

F Tari Eason

F Jabari Smith Jr.

C Steven Adams

G Amen Thompson

F/G Kevin Durant

INJURY REPORT

PACERS 

T.J. McConnell: Available - Right Hamstring Soreness

Jay Huff: Available - Left Ankle Sprain

Isaiah Jackson: Out - Concussion

Tyrese Haliburton: Out - Right Achilles Tendon tear

Obi Toppin: Out - Right Foot Stress Fracture

Ben Sheppard: Out - Left Calf Strain

ROCKETS

Alperen Sengun: Out - Left Soleus Strain

Fred VanVleet: Out - Right Knee ACL Repair

Isaiah Crawford: Out - G League (Two-way)

Tyler Smith: Out - G League (Two-way)

QUOTABLE

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka on his lineup combinations: "Once we’re whole and full, and off minutes restrictions and those things we’ll figure out what works best. Bringing Dorian (Finney-Smith) back adds a piece of that. Like I said all year, our versatility is great. We can upsize or downsize and go all over the place. We have 10 quality players that can start every night."