Caris LeVert scored 27 points, Domantas Sabonis added 22 and Malcolm Brogdon fell just short of a triple-double as the Indiana Pacers beat the Houston Rockets 132-124 on Wednesday night.
LeVert was involved in the blockbuster January trade that sent James Harden from Houston to Brooklyn and Victor Oladipo from Indiana to Houston. While Oladipo struggled during his brief tenure in Houston, LeVert has starred with the Pacers, scoring at least 20 points in five of his last seven games.
Sabonis was dominant in the paint, making 10 of 18 shots from the field while also grabbing 11 rebounds and adding seven assists.
Houston Rockets' Kelly Olynyk drives to the basket over Indiana Pacers' Edmond Sumner during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Houston. (Carmen MandatoPool Photo via AP)
Brogdon fell one assist shy of his second career triple-double and his first since his rookie season in 2016-2017. He had 23 points, nine assists and 13 rebounds, two shy of his career high.
Indiana has won five of its last seven games and is 5-3 in April following a 6-8 record in March.
Houston has lost four straight and nine of 10.
Indiana Pacers' Domantas Sabonis dunks during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Houston. (Carmen MandatoPool Photo via AP)
The Rockets were led by John Wall’s 31 points and nine assists. Christian Wood had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Kelly Olynyk added 25 points, including 14 in the third quarter.
The Pacers led 33-24 at the end of the first quarter and took a 75-55 lead into halftime. The Rockets outscored Indiana 39-31 in the third quarter and pulled within seven with three minutes remaining before Indiana pulled away.
Houston never led in the game.
Indiana Pacers' Domantas Sabonis drives to the basket against Houston Rockets' Kelly Olynyk during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Houston. (Carmen MandatoPool Photo via AP)
The Pacers have won three straight against Houston following a five-game losing streak in the series.
TIP-INS
Pacers: Doug McDermott and Myles Turner missed the game with left ankle sprains. ... Former Rockets player Jeremy Lamb scored 18 points in 30 minutes off the bench. ... Indiana’s bench outscored Houston’s reserves 48-13.
Houston Rockets' John Wall drives to the basket next to Indiana Pacers' Jeremy Lamb during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Houston. (Carmen MandatoPool Photo via AP)
Rockets: D.J. Augustin (left ankle sprain) and Sterling Brown (left knee soreness) remained sidelined. Of the eight Rockets who played in the first game at Indiana on Jan. 6, only Wall and Jae’Sean Tate were still with the team and available to play Wednesday night.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Visit Utah on Friday night for the middle leg of a three-game trip.
Rockets: Host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball