The league's best defensive team hosts the one of NBA's top scoring squads Friday night when the Houston Rockets visit the Indiana Pacers.

Led by James Harden and Dwight Howard, the Rockets drop 107.1 points a night—second best offense in the league. Meanwhile, the Pacers, behind a very stingy defense, limits the opposition to 90.2 points per game or first overall in the entire NBA.

Which team will be able to dictate the pace in this East vs. West battle?

Harden top-scores for his team with 24.4 PPG and adds 4.6 RPG, 5.8 APG and 1.4 SPG. Howard averages 17.7 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG. Harden is 5th in the lead in scoring while Howard is 2nd overall in rebounding in the NBA.

For Indiana, they are led by budding superstar Paul George showing All-Star form with 23.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 2.1 SPG. David West (13.4 PPG and 7.0 RPG), Lance Stephenson (12.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.9 APG) and Roy Hibbert (12.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 2.9 BPG) also contribute big numbers.

The Rockets have been inconsistent in recent games with just a 4-4 card over the past eight games. They are coming off a loss to the Sacramento Kings, 106-to-91 and a win over the Chicago Bulls, 109-94.

The Pacers have lost struggled as well losing three of their last five including back-to-back versus the Detroit Pistons, 101-96 and East rivals Miami Heat, 97-94.

Indiana has won three of their last three match-ups versus Houston covering all three games as well. Subscribe to NBA League Pass to watch the Rockets vs. Pacers and other games on Friday.

Betting Against the Spread (ATS)

Houston Rockets Trends
 - Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last games vs. East teams
- Rockets are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games vs. Central division teams
- Rockets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games in Indiana

Indiana Pacers Trends
 - Pacers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. Southwest divisions
- Pacers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. West teams
- Pacers are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games at home