Houston open its 2023-24 NBA preseason slate with Tuesday’s 122-103 home win (box score) over the Indiana Pacers. Cam Whitmore led the way at Toyota Center with an efficient 15 points in 17 minutes, with the Rockets going +21 as a team over that time.
In all, the Rockets had a balanced effort with six players scoring in double figures. Whitmore was joined by Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Tari Eason, and Fred VanVleet (recap).
Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected less than halfway through the first quarter after an altercation with Daniel Theis, which was called a flagrant-two foul after an extended replay review.
Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%) in 20 minutes off the bench. Indiana fell to 0-2 in exhibition play, while the 2023-24 Rockets are now 1-0 to date.
Courtesy of Jackson Gatlin and the Locked on Rockets YouTube channel, here’s what we heard from players and coaches after the game. Houston continues exhibition play Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama, with a matchup versus the New Orleans Pelicans.