Houston finished out its 2025 calendar-year schedule on a three-game winning streak, and the Rockets (20-10) are now 10-1 in their last 11 home games. Jabari Smith Jr. continues to post big numbers.
HOUSTON — The Rockets finished off their calendar-year 2025 schedule with Monday’s 126-119 home victory (box score) over the injury ravaged and short-handed Indiana Pacers.
After leading comfortably for nearly the entire game, Houston (20-10) has now won three straight and is 10-1 in its last 11 games at Toyota Center.
The Rockets remain at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, though Houston is closer to moving up after Monday’s losses by the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds (the 23-9 San Antonio Spurs and 22-10 Denver Nuggets).
Indiana (6-27) continues to hold the NBA’s worst record.
It was a balanced and efficient night for the Rockets, who shot 59% from the field (their second-best showing this season) while also winning the rebounding battle, 54-39.
Key individual statistics included:
Kevin Durant: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; 13-of-20 shooting (65.0%), 40.0% on 3-pointers (40.0%)Jabari Smith Jr.: 21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks; 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)Amen Thompson: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists; 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), 8-of-8 on free throwsTari Eason: 13 points, 8 rebounds; 5-of-8 shooting (62.5%)Reed Sheppard: 13 points, 3 assists, 2 steals; 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%)Pascal Siakam (Pacers): 23 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds; 8-of-16 shooting (50.0%), 6-of-10 on free throws (60.0%)
Now in his fourth NBA season, Smith is averaging career-highs in points (15.8), shooting percentage (46.2%), 3-point percentage (38.4%), and true-shooting percentage (58.5%). The Auburn product, drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round, remains one of Houston’s most valued and versatile defensive players, as well.
“I’m just trusting my work, and letting the game come to me,” Smith told Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network (SCHN). “Playing off Alpi (Sengun) and KD, and being aggressive when I get the opportunities.”
Smith has now scored 15 or more points in six straight games, the longest such streak of his young NBA career, and he’s posted that total 20 times this season after doing so only 18 times in last season. Since the start of 2024-25, the Rockets are 30-8 when Smith scores at least 15 points.
On the same night that Houston improved to 20-10 on its season, Smith posted his 16th career game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. For the 2025-26 season as a whole, Smith’s offensive rating (122.0) leads Houston’s roster among consistent rotation players.
Unfortunately for Smith and the Rockets, injuries elsewhere in the frontcourt are starting to pile up. Sengun missed a second straight game with left calf tightness, while veteran backup Steven Adams left early with a right ankle sprain. Their status for upcoming games is not yet known, though Udoka said pregame that he was hopeful for Sengun to return by Houston’s next game.
With their two-game homestand complete, the Rockets will now hit the road for a two-game road trip versus the Nets and Dallas Mavericks. First up is Thursday’s 5:00 p.m. Central tipoff in Brooklyn, with the New Year’s Day game televised regionally on SCHN and nationally via NBA League Pass.
Final: Rockets 126, Pacers 119
Durant 30 pts, 6 rebs, 5 assts
Smith 21 pts, 10 rebs
Thompson 20 pts, 8 rebs, 7 assts
It got a little ugly in garbage time, but the Rockets come away with another one-sided victory despite Alperen Sengun’s absence. KD was outstanding once again,…
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) December 30, 2025
Ime Udoka says the #Rockets are hopeful that Alperen Sengun (calf tightness) will return by Houston’s next game on Thursday in Brooklyn.
Says Alpi played through it against the Lakers and came out feeling a bit worse, so they decided to rest for a few days
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) December 29, 2025
Jabari Smith Jr’s last 6 games:
21 PTS | 10 REB | 3 BLK | 62.2 TS%
15 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 83.3 TS%
16 PTS | 7 REB | 2 STL | 81.0 TS%
16 PTS | 4 3PM | 1 AST | 61.5 TS%
18 PTS | 5 REB | 2 STL | 4 3PM
22 PTS | 10 REB | 2 STL | 73.9 TS%
The longest streak of his career with 15 or… pic.twitter.com/6cxVGSE74n
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) December 30, 2025
Kevin Durant on Jabari Smith Jr:
“Me & Bari have talked a lot about us taking the shots we want to take, not letting the defense dictate what we do out there, using our length and our size to get shots off…”
Truly cool that Bari is learning from KD. pic.twitter.com/D8BjrLpNox
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 30, 2025