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Stopping Harden is the hosts' priority

In Paul George the Pacers have a man who could potentially slow Harden down. Last night, Harden treated the 76ers with 51 recorded points and both 13 assists and jumps

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Even though consistency isn't their forte, Indiana Pacers look like quite safe candidates for the playoffs, but that tells us more about their opponents than about them. After 46 games they have only two more wins than defeats, but Nate McMillan's boys are sixth in the East with three more wins than ninth the Bucks.

After winning in Minneapolis the night before last night, Pacers beat the Kings on Friday with 115-111, and that was after five minutes overtime which they earned thanks to the 17-5 series in the final moments of the game.

- We've shown the will to get out there and win. We didn't quit - said Myles Turner who recorded 14 points (6-for-9).

Before that, the Pacers were at 1-7 record when playing two nights in a row, ut this time Paul Geroge was in the mood: he recorded the last six points in regular time, and then in overtime he gave the lead to his team three times; in the third quarter they were 16 points behind.

- I have to give it to my co-players for staying in the game. They fought despite the result not being what we wnted. Luckily, with time we hit the sweet spot and we managed to win - commented George who recorded 33 points (8-for-18).

The Pacers' record this season is 13-3 when George records at least 24 points, and on Friday C. J. Miles kept up well with 18 points (6-for-9), while Jeff Teague recorded 17 points (5-for-11), eight rebounds and the same number of passes.

By beating the Kings, the Pacers improved their home record to 17-6 where they will host the Houston Rockets who arrived at their last station of the five-game road trip on which their efficiency is 50/50. For last night's 123-118 win in Philadelphia they needed an amazing edition by James Harden who recorded 51 points (16-for-28), with 13 rebounds and that many assists.

- He played good as much as it was possible. I trained a lot of players, and I don't know if you can play better than that. I never saw anything better - coach Mike D'Antoni praised his player.

Harden became the first player in the history of the league who in one season recorded a triple-double more times with at least 50 recorded points, and tonight he will have to try and do the same thing, especially if Eric Gordon doesn't return. Due to problems with lower back, he missed the last two games.

The Rockets' record this season in away games is 18-10, but they lost in Indianapolis four times in a row.