The Phoenix Suns (6-3) stop by the Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off against the Indiana Pacers (6-2). Below, we analyze the Suns-Pacers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Suns squandered a 23-point lead in a 111-105 overtime loss last night to the Detroit Pistons as 8-point favorites. Phoenix lost because of the free throw discrepancy: The Suns made just 6-of-13 free throws while the Pistons were 25-of-29 from the charity stripe. Newly acquired Suns PG Chris Paul has struggled offensively out the gate, averaging just 13 points per game on 41.2% shooting and scoring 20 or more points in just two of his nine games played.
Indiana has won two in a row coming into Saturday’s game, which includes a 114-107 home win vs. the Houston Rockets Wednesday as a 3-point favorite and a 118-116 overtime win at the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 4 as a 2-point underdog. Pacers PG Malcolm Brogdon balled out in both games, combining for 56 points and 18 assists in both wins.
Suns at Pacers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Suns +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Pacers -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Suns +3.5 (-110) | Pacers -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 215.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Suns at Pacers: Key Injuries
Suns
- Nothing affecting the betting lines.
Pacers
- SG Doug McDermott (ankle) questionable
- SF T.J. Warren (foot) out
- SG Jeremy Lamb (knee) out
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Suns at Pacers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Pacers 109, Suns 101
Money line (ML)
PASS ON THE MONEY LINE even though I like the Pacers in this spot, and it’s right at the max I’m willing to wager for an outright win. It is fringe, though, so if you decided to bet Indiana to win, I cannot be mad at you. However, I’ll be greedy and bet the spread.
Against the spread (ATS)
While the Suns’ backcourt of CP3 and Devin Booker have the more valuable basketball cards, Indiana’s backcourt is better. Pacers SG Victor Oladipo is starting to recapture his All-Star form after battling leg injuries for a couple of seasons, and PG Malcolm Brogdon is quietly having a career year.
Brogdon is Indiana’s leading scorer (23.6 points per game) on 51.8% field-goal and 47.2% on threes and leading assist man (7.0 assists per game). Also, Brogdon has outplayed CP3 when these two have met: Brogdon’s team is 4-1 and CP3 has had single-digit point totals in three of those games including the last two, according to LandOfBasketball.com.
Plus the Suns are in the second of a back-to-back, and last night’s game went into overtime. BET PACERS -3.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 215.5 (-105) is the play on the total. The Suns and Pacers are tied with the New York Knicks for the fourth-best defensive rating and Phoenix has a 2-7 O/U record. But hurry up because the market has already bet this total down from the 217-point opener, and we don’t want to lose too much closing line value.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Hoops Hype:
- There are now 31 players owed $100 million-plus in guaranteed salaries in the NBA
- Rumors: Suns | Pacers
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