As the race intensifies for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference standings (and with it, the final spot in the West’s eventual play-in tournament), the Houston Rockets (23-25) and Utah Jazz (25-26) have similar resumes for the 2023-24 NBA season to date.
Houston is 18-9 at home, while Utah is 16-7. The Jazz are 9-19 on the road, while the Rockets are 5-17 away from Houston.
There’s one big problem for the Rockets with that math. Over the remainder of the season, Houston has 19 road games and only 14 at home. By contrast, the Jazz have 18 home games and 13 on the road.
So, if the Jazz stay strong in Salt Lake City, the only way for the Rockets to close the gap is to finally turn things around on the road. After losing at top-seeded Minnesota on Sunday, the task could become a bit more manageable in Tuesday’s game at Indiana (28-23), which happens to be the second stop of a four-game road trip.
Then again, the injury report isn’t doing the Rockets any favors. Second-year forward Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) remains out, and starting point guard Fred VanVleet (left adductor strain) is now sidelined, as well. The team has yet to release a projected return timetable for VanVleet beyond Tuesday’s absence.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 6
- Time: 6 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (23-26)
- Guard: Amen Thompson
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Indiana Pacers (28-23)
- Guard: Tyrese Haliburton
- Guard: Andrew Nembhard
- Forward: Aaron Nesmith
- Forward: Pascal Siakam
- Center: Myles Turner
Projected lineups are based on each team’s previous game, with the exception of Thompson replacing the injured VanVleet for Houston.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Steven Adams (trade pending), Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management), and Fred VanVleet (left adductor strain) as out for Tuesday’s game. Eason has advanced to 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 drills in recent practices, and the Rockets hope he can resume playing in games this week. Nate Williams is in the G League.
Indiana is listing Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain injury management) and Jalen Smith (low back spasms) are questionable. Young prospects Kendall Brown, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Isaiah Wong are all questionable with the G League designation, with their availability perhaps tied to Haliburton and Smith’s final prognosis.
Feb. 6 uniform choices
- Rockets: White Association Edition
- Pacers: Blue Icon Edition
