The Cleveland Cavaliers (37-27) visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tuesday to take on the Indiana Pacers (22-44). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Cavaliers vs. Pacers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Cavs are coming off a 104-96 home win over the depleted Toronto Raptors, covering as 5-point favorites. That was Cleveland’s second straight cover as they rebound from a 0-6 skid against the spread (ATS).
The Cavaliers are 4-6 ATS over their last 10. They’re 17-16 straight up on the road but are just 5-6-1 ATS as a road favorite, a situation they’ll be in against the Pacers.
Indiana is coming off a 133-123 loss to the Washington Wizards, failing to cover as a 2-point road underdog. The Pacers are also just 4-6 ATS over their last 10 outings and are 29-34-3 ATS on the season. They’re led by G Buddy Hield who is averaging 20 points per game in 10 outings with Indiana.
Cavaliers at Pacers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:51 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cavaliers -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Pacers +122 (bet $100 to win $122)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cavaliers -2.5 (-120) | Pacers +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Cavaliers at Pacers key injuries
Cavaliers
- C Jarrett Allen (finger) out
- G Caris LeVert (foot) out
- G Rajon Rondo (toe) questionable
Pacers
- C Goga Bitadze (foot) questionable
- G Chris Duarte (toe) questionable
- C Myles Turner (foot) out
[tipico]
Cavaliers at Pacers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 113, Cavaliers 108
Money line
SPRINKLE on the PACERS (+122).
I would wait until the status of Duarte and Bitadze is announced, mainly due to the lack of size in the Pacers frontcourt without their starting center active.
First-time All-Star Allen isn’t available for Cleveland. The Cavs are just 2-6 straight up without him in the lineup. That lack of size could bode well for Indiana given its pace and style of play.
The Pacers rank third in offensive rebounding rate while the Cavs are just the 17th-best defensive rebounding team and down their starting center. The second-chance opportunities should be bountiful for Indiana.
Cleveland has also lost its last four road games. While it did beat Indiana 120-113 Feb. 11 they did so with Allen recording 22 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 8-for-12. His absence will be a difference-maker.
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Against the spread
BET on the PACERS +2.5 (-105).
Indiana hasn’t been good this season. It sits fourth in the Central Division and is 10 games out of playoff seeding despite that it was projected to be a potential playoff team.
However, it’s mainly been the Pacers’ road play that has plagued them where they’re 7-26. Indiana is still 15-18 at home. The Pacers are 7-7 ATS as a home underdog which is a better ATS record than Cleveland’s as a road favorite.
The Pacers rank seventh in second-chance points while the Cavs are third in opponents’ second-chance points, but that’s another area Cleveland may struggle without Allen in the lineup.
Over/Under
PASS.
Indiana plays at too high of a pace for me to back the Under, but Allen’s impact on the defensive end cannot be understated.
I0’d lean to the Over if there is a play, but I see Allen’s absence hurting the Cavs on both ends of the court so I don’t necessarily trust them offensively either.
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