Indiana Pacers AT Houston Rockets
Mar 5, 2011 at 8:30 PM EST
Opening Line:  Houston -5.5
Current Line:  Houston -6
Opening Total:  214.5
Current Total:  216
Opening Moneyline:  Hou -255 / Ind +215
Current Moneyline: Hou -265 / Ind +215

Houston just had a five game win streak snapped.  They currently sit at 11th in the Western conference and are 3 full games behind Memphis for the 8th spot in the West.  “You’re going to lose some games,” Adelman commented.  “We lost, now you have to respond against Indiana. You can’t give in to it.”

Forward Luis Scola still thinks the Rockets are approaching situations in games properly.  “We’re more prepared to win games and we’ll have more chances down the stretch to win games,” Scola said. “It’s not like I feel well about (Wednesday’s) loss, I just feel well about the way we’re approaching games.”

Indiana currently sits at 8th in the Eastern Conference but have went 10-7 since Jim O’Brien was fired.

Some betting trends:

Indiana is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games and they are 5-18 SU in their last 23 on the road.  The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Indiana’s last 18 games against Houston.  Indiana is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Houston and the total has gone UNDER in 11 of Indiana’s last 15 games when playing on the road at Houston.

Houston is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games and the total has gone OVER in 7 of Houston’s last 10 games.  The total has gone OVER in 5 of their last 5 at home and they are 5-11-1 ATS In their last 17 at home.  Houston is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against Indiana and the total has gone UNDER in 13 of the last 18 meetings between the teams.  Houston is 1-4 SU in their last 5 against Indiana and the total has gone UNDER in 11 of Houston’s last 15 games at home against the Pacers.  Houston is 2-5 ATS In their last 7 at home against Indiana.

Key Matchups:

Danny Granger vs. Chase Budinger

Budinger has really proved to be much better than the spot in the second round in which he was taken.  He’s proven himself to be an ample scorer, sound defender, and good athletic presence in games and the Rockets have benefitted from him seeing increased playing time.  He’ll matchup against Granger, whose stats have curtailed, but only because he is getting better contributions from teammates.  Budinger should be able to stay with Granger, but may have trouble contesting jumpers due to Granger’s superior length.  Both will work one another defensively as they are both good scorers.

Darren Collison vs. Kyle Lowry

Now that Aaron Brooks is gone, the job is solely in the hands of Lowry.  Dragic will not be starting any time soon and Lowry has done a splendid job as a starter.  Lowry is now averaging 12.3 points per game, 6.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.  Darren Collison has been a bit of a disappointment for Indiana, but he isn’t getting sufficient playing time and has had to deal with Jim O’Brien playing T.J. Ford late in games.  Collison and Lowry are both as quick as they come so this matchup should be exciting.

Tonight’s game should prove to be a good one, though Indiana is only 10-20 on the road.