Overview
- Alperen Şengün matched his season high with 39 points plus 16 rebounds, shooting 13-for-25 and 13-for-18 at the line with eight fourth-quarter free throws.
- The Rockets owned the glass 56–33 with 19 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points, neutralizing Indiana’s stops.
- A closing sequence saw Şengün grab his missed free throw and kick to Amen Thompson, whose late trip to the line with 3.8 seconds left sealed it.
- Playing without Kevin Durant (sprained left ankle) and season-ending absentee Steven Adams, Houston notched a third straight win to reach 31–17 and remain fourth in the West.
- Pascal Siakam scored 27 and Bennedict Mathurin 25 as Indiana fell to 13–37, with Rick Carlisle citing rebounding and free throws as the decisive factors.