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Red-hot Rockets ready to take on slumping Pacers

Feb 1, 2008 - 2:50 PM Houston (25-20) at Indiana (19-27) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Two teams headed in opposite directions in the standings meet on Friday when the Houston Rockets visit the Indiana Pacers.

The Rockets picked up their fifth win in their last six games on Tuesday with a 111-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Despite missing practice on Monday due to flu-like symptoms, Yao Ming tied a season-high, scoring 36 points and set a season-high by grabbing 19 rebounds against the Warriors.

Yao, who is headed to his sixth-straight All-Star game, is having arguably the best season of his career, averaging a team-high 22.4 points and 10.9 rebounds this campaign.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have lost four games in a row and five of their last six overall.

Indiana's woes continued during its last game on Tuesday when it suffered a 110-104 setback to the Detroit Pistons.

Mike Dunleavy had 25 points, seven assists and seven rebounds against the Pistons, scoring at least 22 points for the third straight game.

Dunleavy, like Yao, is having a career-year, averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season.