NBA scores: Pacers’s D too much for Heat; Rockets rip Lakers

Nash needed five assists to get to the historic mark, and he reached it with just under 20 seconds remaining in the first half of the game. The milestone comes in the midst of a troubled season for Los Angeles, as the 15-18 Lakers are struggling to find an identity with new personnel, a new coach and new system.

Nash missed 24 games due to a broken left fibula suffered in the Lakers’ second game of the season. In nine games this season, the veteran has averaged 10.2 points and 8.8 assists. He’s shot particularly well from the field, reaching a 52.9 percent mark. Over the course of his career, he’s averaged 49.1 percent.

The Heat led by as many as seven, but Indiana managed to climb back into the contest behind the George’s 12 third quarter points. It was a team effort on defense that held the defending NBA champs in check, and they could never get their normally potent transition game going, scoring just one fast break point.

Miami’s deficiencies inside were on full display as well. The heat gave up 22 offensive rebounds and were outscored 28-24 in the paint,

Mike D’Antoni has no other choice. That’s what scares the Houston Rockets the most.

It’s a tad bit concerning for the Rockets (20-14), because D’Antoni knows darn well how to play with an undersized team. Houston, which comes into the game having won nine of their last 11 games, hopes that injuries haven’t given the Lakers’ head coach a break.

Five games are on the NBA docket Tuesday night, including a matchup from last year’s playoffs and the NBA’s favorite story of the year so far, the struggling Lakers taking on a streaking Rockets team.