Post-Game Grades: Pacers Lose Sixth Straight as James Harden Scores 44 Points

The Good: The Indiana Pacers made a mammoth run in the third quarter to get back in a game that earlier had looked more likely to end in a 30-point margin than anything. They outscored the Rockets 25-15 in the first 10 minutes of the period, hitting 11-of-20 shots including 3-for-4 from long range.

The Bad: The defense. Again. They fouled way too much (James Harden alone made 21-of-22 free throws and the team made 35-of-37), and couldn’t get stops or protect the 3-point line.

MVP: James Harden. He was impeccable, getting by Pacers players at will. George Hill did a better job later, but by then Harden was already cooking and nobody could stop him from sealing the game for Houston late.

LVP: Solomon Hill. What a disaster. He committed 5 — FIVE — turnovers in the first quarter, and nearly singlehandedly ensured that the Pacers would dig their own ditch this evening.

X Factor: The aforementioned free throws. Cynics will look at the free-throw attempt disparity — 37 for Houston, 19 for Indiana — and cry about bad officiating. But the Rockets simply forced the issue much more than the Pacers, and Harden earned nearly all of those attempts, however you feel about his style of play. Nobody was staying in front of him and he attacked all night long while Indiana was passive and reactionary on both ends.

Houston Rockets

110

FinalRecap | Box Score

100

Indiana Pacers

David West, PF 31 MIN | 4-13 FG | 2-4 FT | 4 REB | 5 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +1 +/-This dude been looking like he gonna sign with a glue factory next year.