2 studs, 1 dud from Indiana Pacers preseason loss to Houston Rockets

The Indiana Pacers just wrapped up their second game of the preseason, falling to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday by a score of 122-103, putting their record at 0-2.

Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t played in either of the first two games, and Myles Turner missed the contest against Houston, but preseason isn’t about wins and losses.

Instead, the Pacers should be focusing on developing chemistry and taking a look at their young players, and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing thus far.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at two studs and one dud from the Pacers’ preseason loss to the Rockets, keeping in mind that even the duds can be a good thing, as the preseason is all about learning.

Stud – Jalen Smith

Jalen Smith will be fighting for backup big man minutes this season with the likes of Daniel Theis and Isaiah Jackson, and his performance against Houston was a good example of why he shouldn’t be counted out.

The 23-year-old center finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds in 12:26 off the bench. He shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and 1-of-1 from behind the three-point line.

It seems as though Smith bulked up a bit over the summer, and against Houston, he utilized his size in the post and on the boards. Rebounding will be a key part of his earning minutes.

So far, Smith has outperformed Jackson in the preseason, and while these games don’t mean everything, it could play a part in how the rotation shakes out to begin the regular season.