Playing their final game before the Christmas holiday, the Pacers took a 63-58 lead over the Houston Rockets into halftime on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers jumped out to an early 8-2 lead and maintained some advantage for most of the opening quarter. With Malcolm Brogdon out with a sore right Achilles, Caris LeVert slid over to point guard and acquitted himself well as a playmaker early, dishing out six assists over the first six-plus minutes, including three connections with Myles Turner for easy buckets in the post.
Three straight threes from Torrey Craig, Turner, and Craig again gave the hosts a 25-18 lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.