@
27-16		15-27
January 23, 2009 - 7:00PM EST
Conseco Fieldhouse
Radio: 1070AM WFNI   TV: Fox Sports Indiana
Probable starters:
Rafer Alston	PG	Jarrett Jack
Von Wafer	SG	Mike Dunleavy
Shane Battier	SF	Danny Granger
Luis Scola	PF	Troy Murphy
Yao Ming	C	Jeff Foster

The Pacers welcome back another old friend when Ronnie Artest comes to town with the Houston Rockets. Much like Jermaine O'Neal, Ronnie's playing status is unknown since he's been dealing with a bum right ankle which has caused him to miss 12 games so far, including the last six after an attempt to return too early. Artest did practice on Thursday, so considering the return to Indy I wouldn't be surprised to see him give it a go.

Tracy McGrady has missed 15 games including the last five while dealing with a left knee injury. T-Mac also practiced on Thursday but he has already declared he's not ready to go tonight. 

Feeling sorry for the Rockets with those injuries to key players? Don't. They seem to be rolling having won six of their last seven games putting them at 27-16, good for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Here are the Pacers.com Matchups and Video Preview. Hopefully T.J. Ford and Marquis Daniels will be closer to full strength after a couple of days off to rest and heal. JOB has a good plan to guard Yao Ming, starting Foster on Rasho's shoulders. Rasho Fosterovic?

For the Houston perspective, check out The Dream Shake. 

Gameday Reading

• UPDATE: Kevin Lee posted some more Pacers info including some interesting comments from JOB regarding Jerryd Bayless.
• Jeff Rabjohns digs into all the tight games the Pacers have played this year and finds no peer in the NBA when it comes to dealing with crunch time craziness.
• Fran Blinebury has more on Ronnie and T-Mac and the Rockets recent success without them in the lineup.
• Kevin Lee reports that Roy Hibbert (mild concussion) and Jeff Foster (right shoulder sprain) are listed as day-to-day but both should be available tonight. 
• BDL's most recent Power Rankings have the Pacers 21st but Kelly Dwyer also includes a pound-your-head-on-your-desk number to digest. Also, a nice pic from Ike Diogu's glory days.

Fun with family and friends will have me watching this one late on the DVR. I'll be checking in though, so leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.