Rockets vs. Pacers NBA expert prediction and odds for Tuesday, Feb. 6 (Indiana has key edge)

The Indiana Pacers are at home on Tuesday night to take on the Houston Rockets, who have been one of the NBA’s worst teams on the road this season. 

Houston is just 5-17 straight up on the road in the 2023-24 season, and this will be a tough matchup against the league’s No. 1 offense in Indiana. 

The Pacers have listed Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) as questionable once again for this game, and he’s been playing recently on a minutes limit. 

Should bettors trust the Pacers are sizable favorites even if their best player isn’t going to play his full complement of minutes?

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Here’s a look at the odds and my best bet for this matchup on Tuesday night: 

Rockets vs. Pacers odds, spread and total

Rockets vs. Pacers how to watch

• Date: Tuesday, Feb. 6
• Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
• Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• How to watch (TV): AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Bally Sports Indiana
• Rockets record: 23-26
• Pacers record: 28-23

Rockets vs. Pacers injury reports

Rockets injury report

• Steven Adams – out
• Tari Eason – out
• Fred VanVleet – out
• Nate Williams – out

Pacers injury report

• Kendall Brown – questionable
• Tyrese Haliburton – questionable
• Oscar Tshiebwe – questionable
• Isaiah Wong – questionable
• Jalen Smith – questionable

Rockets vs. Pacers key players to watch

Houston Rockets

Cam Whitmore: Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore has really played well since cracking Ime Udoka’s rotation, averaging 13.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from the field in his last 19 games. He could be in line for an expanded role tonight with Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason out. 

Indiana Pacers

Andrew Nembhard: If Haliburton’s minutes restriction continues, Andrew Nembhard is going to have to pick up the slack for the Pacers. In his last two games, Nembhard has failed to score a point – even though he played 27 minutes in a win over Charlotte. The Pacers point guard has put up six straight games in double figures prior to those scoreless outings. 

Rockets vs. Pacers prediction and pick

Houston’s road struggles are a massive key when betting on this game, as the team is just 6-12-1 against the spread as a road underdog in the 2023-24 campaign. 

While Haliburton’s minutes limit makes laying any number with the Pacers a tricky task, I don’t mind doing it here. 

Despite posting a top seven defensive rating on the season, the Rockets are in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating on the road this season. It’s common for such a young team to thrive at home but struggle on the road. 

Indiana is 7-7-1 ATS as home favorite, but I think the team’s offense can thrive against Houston. Plus, the loss of Fred VanVleet can’t be understated. 

The Rockets lack true point guard play after FVV, and they’ve lost both games without him this season by 10 and nine points. 

I’ll take Indiana to cover at home. 

Pick: Pacers -7.5 (-112)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.