The Los Angeles Lakers (9-10) stop by Gainbridge Fieldhouse Wednesday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off against the Indiana Pacers (8-11). Below, we look at the Lakers vs. Pacers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
This is the second of L.A.’s back-to-back as the Lakers lost Tuesday to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden 106-100 and failed to cover as 4.5-point closing underdogs.
The Lakers are just 3-5 overall and ATS over the past two weeks. L.A. is 6-13 ATS and 10-8-1 O/U this season with the 24th-ranked net rating (minus-3.5).
Indiana blasted the Chicago Bulls 109-77 as a 1.5-point road underdog Monday. The Pacers are 4-4 overall and ATS over their last eight games. Indiana is 10-9 ATS and 6-13 O/U with the 12th-best net rating (plus-1.6).
L.A. beat Indiana in both regular-season meetings last year but the Pacers did cover in one of those losses and both sides of the total cashed in the series.
Lakers at Pacers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Lakers +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Pacers -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +3.5 (-107) | Pacers -3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 218.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Lakers at Pacers key injuries
Lakers
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
Pacers
- SG Caris LeVert (back) questionable
- SF T.J. Warren (foot) out
Lakers at Pacers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Pacers 114, Lakers 109
Money line
“LEAN” to the PACERS (-170) only because I could listen to Indiana laying the points at a reduced price as being a better wager. Either way, the Pacers are the right side in this matchup for various reasons.
Indiana is better than its record indicates while L.A. is worse. The Pacers have the worst win differential in the NBA based on efficiency differential while the Lakers have the second-highest win differential according to CleaningTheGlass.com
Indiana is also trending in a much better direction than L.A. Granted, F LeBron James has missed a lot of action recently. However, over the last two weeks, the Pacers are plus-7.1 points per 100 possessions and sixth in ATS margin while the Lakers are minus-9.8 points per 100 possessions and 28th in ATS margin.
Furthermore, L.A. should have a tough time defending what Indiana does frequently. The Pacers cut at the fifth-highest frequency in the Association and run their offense through the pick-and-roll run man at the fourth-highest frequency.
The Lakers’ defensive has the third-worst efficiency against the pick-and-roll roll man and the 20th ranked shot quality allowed vs. pick-and-roll action, according to ShotQuality.com.
The Pacers have been awesome at home and the Lakers have been trash on the road. Indiana is 5-2 overall at home with the sixth-best efficiency differential and the fifth-best ATS margin per CleaningTheGlass.com. L.A. is 2-5 on the road with a minus-8.9 efficiency differential (ranked 23rd) and a minus-5.9 ATS margin (ranked 26th).
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the PACERS -3.5 (-115) based on the aforementioned analysis and because Indiana’s money line has just as much value. For what it’s worth, the Lakers are 3-4 ATS as an underdog with a minus-4.5 ATS margin, but the Pacers are just 3-6 ATS as a favorite with a minus-1.7 ATS margin.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the OVER 218.5 (-115) for a small wager — if at all — because I have a much better read on the side than the totals in this contest. However, my numbers put this total in the lower to mid 220s and Indiana’s offense is much better at home.
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