Houston Rockets [27-16] @ Indiana Pacers [15-27]
| Friday, January 23, 2009 | Indianapolis, Indiana| Conseco Fieldhouse| 7:00 pm ET |
| TV: FSIN, FSH | Radio: WIBC 1070
GAME PREVIEW
The losses of Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest figured to make an already frustrating season that much more of a challenge for the Houston Rockets. Instead, the team is playing some of its best basketball without two of its stars.
The short-handed but surging Rockets go for their seventh win in eight games Friday night when they visit the Indiana Pacers.
Houston (27-16) announced Jan. 12 that McGrady will miss two weeks with a sore left knee that has bothered him since he underwent minor surgery in May. Soon after, the Rockets said they were shutting down Artest for at least a week so he could rest a sprained right ankle.
McGrady and Artest practiced Thursday, leaving coach Rick Adelman believing both would return soon even though he couldn’t set a timetable. McGrady will not play Friday but there’s a chance Artest could after being cleared to go full speed.
The injuries have left the Rockets without their top scoring threats behind Yao Ming, but the team hasn’t suffered much without them. Houston’s won six of its last seven, though McGrady and Artest were available for only one game apiece in that stretch.
“You are looking at a locker room full of 10 guys right now who are playing well, and we are doing a really good job and really appreciate the support of our crowd,” reserve guard Brent Barry told the Rockets’ official Web site after a 108-99 home win over Utah on Wednesday night.
“We’ve really done some good things and grown up during these last six or seven ball games.”
Houston has been remarkably efficient offensively during that stretch. The Rockets rank near the bottom of the league in field-goal percentage at 44.5, but they’ve shot 49.0 percent over their last seven games.
“The way we’re moving the ball around, we can’t afford to go back to our old offense of sit-and-watch, and isolation,” forward Shane Battier said. “It’s just not as good. We’re much better when we move the ball and play like this.”
Adelman agreed after watching his team record 21 assists on 35 field goals in Wednesday’s victory. Houston made 11 of its 24 3-point attempts and had four players score at least 19 points.
“We have a nice balance going to Yao, and pick-and-rolls and ball movement,” Adelman said. “We had some good open looks that we missed tonight, but I think this team has made some pretty good strides in the last two weeks.”
Rest of Preview - http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview;_yl ... 2009012311
THE COACHES
vs. 
Jim O’Brien has 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional level. Most recently, he served as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2004-2005 season. The Philadelphia native guided the 76ers to the playoffs with a 43-39 record, a 10 win improvement from the previous season.
Rick Adelman became the 11th head coach in Rockets history on May 23, 2007, returning to the bench after a season away from the NBA. Adelman owns a career record of 752-481 (.610) in 16 NBA seasons as a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers (1988-1994), Golden State Warriors (1995-1997) and Sacramento Kings (1998-2006). He has recorded the sixth most wins among active NBA coaches behind Don Nelson (Golden State), Pat Riley (Miami), Jerry Sloan (Utah), Phil Jackson (L.A. Lakers) and George Karl (Denver). Adelman stands as one of only five head coaches in league history to win 60 or more games with two different teams. He also holds a career 70-68 (.507) mark in the postseason, as his teams have reached the playoffs 14 times in 16 seasons.
MATCH-UP
INDIANA PACERS: TJ Ford (13.8ppg, 5apg); Mike Dunleavy (15.8ppg); Danny Granger (26.2ppg, 5.1rpg); Troy Murphy (12.1ppg, 11.2rpg); Jeff Foster (6.9rpg)
HOUSTON ROCKETS: Rafer Alston (11.8ppg, 5.1apg); Von Wafer (10.4ppg); Shane Battier (6.9ppg, 4.4rpg), Luis Scola (11.6ppg, 7.8rpg); Yao Ming (19.9ppg, 9.6rpg)
TOP RESERVES
Indiana: Jarrett Jack (10.8ppg); Rasho Nesterovic (8.7ppg, 4.1rpg); Brandon Rush (6.3ppg); Marquis Daniels (14.3ppg)
Houston: Carl Landry (8.9ppg, 5.3rpg); Brent Barry (4.3ppg); Chuck Hayes (3.9rpg); Aaron Brooks (10.2ppg, 2.3apg)
MEDICAL REPORT
Indiana: None.
Houston: Ron Artest (Day-to-day); Tracy McGready (Day-to-day)
EARLIER MATCH-UP
HOUSTON -- The Indiana Pacers had blown second-half leads in three straight games, but they were the ones who mounted the comeback in Houston on Wednesday night.
Danny Granger tipped in his own miss with 13 seconds left and the Pacers rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Rockets 91-90.
Troy Murphy scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter as Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak in Houston. Indiana was outrebounded 57-44, but held the Rockets to 35 percent shooting (31-of-89).
Box Score- http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=281126010
TRADITION
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