3 Studs, 1 dud from Rockets' bounce back win vs Pacers

Houston Rockets fans are starting to get comfortable.

The team is heading into games with a sense of security. For the first time in years, the Rockets feel more likely to win than not on an average NBA night.

Take Wednesday's performance. The Pacers are a solid, competitive team. It still felt like the Rockets were likely to win this one. That feeling was vindicated. The Rockets cruised to a 130-113 win over Indiana.

Here are three studs and one dud from the contest.

Stud: Alperen Sengun

It's been something of an up-and-down season for Sengun, but Rockets fans should be encouraged. Even at his lowest baseline, he's a productive player. Sengun has found a way to impact the game even in a slump, a quality typically reserved for superstars.

Lately, he hasn't been slumping at all. Last night was no exception. Sengun finished the game with 31 points on 12/19 shooting from the field and 12 rebounds.

Sengun has been playing the same game all year. He's getting the same looks. They're starting to fall with his expected regularity. Meanwhile, his defensive improvements don't seem to wane with his increasing offensive production.

Expect to see him in the stud section of these pieces regularly.

Stud: Tari Eason

Speaking of the Rockets' regular studs...

Eason had 6 steals last night. For most players, that would be a career night. For Eason, it's another night at the office.

He also finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Eason connected on both of the three-pointers he attempted. Most impressively, his aggressiveness didn't falter even with 5 fouls. Eason was able to control himself while continuing to assert himself.

He's one of the most exciting players on this team. A lot of people have been calling for Eason to snatch Jabari Smith Jr.'s starting spot.

About that...

Stud: Jabari Smith Jr.

Smith Jr. is turning a corner of his own lately. Last night, he had 23 points on 8/13 shooting from the field, including a 3/5 mark from long-range.

In fairness, Smith Jr. brings qualities to the court that Eason does not. Even if the numbers don't show it, he's a more natural shooter. Smith Jr. has a quicker release. His current three-point percentage is too depressing to print here, but it's feasible to expect him to regress to the mean as 2024-25 continues.

Who knows? The future may look like Smith Jr. starting with Eason as a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The Rockets' future is unknown, but Smith Jr. still has a chance to be part of it.

Last night, he advanced that objective.

Dud: Dillon Brooks

God bless Dillon Brooks.

Seriously. He's having a strong season for the Rockets. Brooks' three-point accuracy has always been his Achilles heel, so the Rockets will take his 36.1% accuracy on 5.2 attempts per game this year.

They won't be as pleased with 0/7 shooting. That was Brooks' mark from deep last night. In total, he finished the game with 4 points on 1/10 shooting.

Brooks won't let a poor night stop him from getting up field goals. Granted, 10 isn't egregious volume. Still, there were moments last night when Brooks could have looked for a teammate instead of launching a mediocre shot. Luckily, the Rockets were able to get the win anyway:

As expected.