RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Jalen Rose had a career-high 35 points and Austin Croshere, starting in place of the injured Dale Davis, matched his career-highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers defeated Houston 111-102 Friday night.

It was the sixth consecutive loss for Houston, which trailed by double figures for most of the game.

After the Pacers built a 23-point lead in the first half, Houston cut its deficit to 107-102 on a layup by Cuttino Mobley with 2:07 to play. Rose answered with a short jumper and Travis Best made it 111-102 by sinking two free throws with 1:04 to go.

Indiana then sealed the victory as Croshere and Reggie Miller came up with consecutive steals.

Rik Smits contributed 21 points for Indiana. Croshere's double-double was his third straight.

Rose had matched his career-high of 32 points on Wednesday in Atlanta. His point production and 14 field goals were both season-highs for Indiana, and his 24 attempts matched his team-high against Denver on March 7.

Mobley had 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter after Indiana took a 90-76 lead into the period. Shandon Anderson added 22 for Houston.

The Pacers built a 14-point lead in the first period when Smits had 13 points and Rose had nine. A 14-footer by Smits put Indiana ahead 21-7 as the Rockets made just two of their first 11 shots.

The Rockets cut the deficit to eight on a three-point play by Steve Francis with 3:03 left in the opening quarter. Two free throws by Croshere and his tip with one second left in the period gave Indiana a 35-21 advantage after one quarter.

Houston shot just 25 percent (8-of-25) in the first period, while Indiana shot 56.5 in both the first and second quarters to lead 66-45 at halftime.

The Rockets pulled within 11 points with a 9-1 run late in the third quarter. Anderson had four free throws in the run which Francis began by making a 3-pointer.

Houston was 11-of-19 from the field in the fourth period.

Notes: Indiana's sellout streak at Conseco Fieldhouse was extended to 32 games. ... Chris Mullin was placed on the injured list with a torn right calf muscle. Al Harrington, who had been on the injured list since Feb. 29 with a bruised calf muscle, was activated. ... Indiana played without Dale Davis (strained hamstring) and Derrick McKey (strained right leg muscle) ... .Indiana raised its league-best home record to 29-3 and is 13-0 at home against Western Conference teams. ... Smits had one block, giving him the franchise record of 1,095. He was tied with Herb Williams.