Previewing Saturday’s New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and best bets.
The New Orleans Pelicans (21-31) visit the Hoosier State to play the Indiana Pacers (31-21) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze Pelicans-Pacers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Pelicans at Pacers: Key injuries
Pelicans
SF Brandon Ingram (ankle) questionable
SF Darius Miller (Achilles) out
SG Kenrich Williams (back) out
Pacers
SF Doug McDermott (elbow) questionable
SG Victor Oladipo (rest) out
SF T.J. Warren (concussion) questionable
PF T.J. Leaf (illness) questionable
Pelicans at Pacers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:40 p..m. ET.
Monitor the injury report in Pelicans-Pacers because, like all NBA regular-season games, it’s crucial in this matchup. The Pacers (-175) could be without their starting and backup small forwards in Warren and McDermott, and the Pelicans (+145) could be without their leading scorer and starting small forward in Ingram, as well. The Pacers give up the fewest points per game to small forwards so if Ingram goes and the Pacers’ small forwards don’t, look for him to exploit whatever replacement comes in.
New Orleans is playing much better than Indiana recently. The Pels won four out of their last six games and are slowly creeping back into the Western Conference playoff hunt—just five games back of the 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies. The Pacers have lost four consecutive games and have dropped to the 6-seed in the East.
BET on the PELICANS +145 on the money line. New to sports betting? Bet $50 on Pelicans to earn a profit of $72.50 if they win outright.
The Pelicans are 9-5-2 against the spread with a rest advantage. Indiana has lost four straight ATS in back-to-backs and is 5-7 ATS on the season, with a minus-4.8 average margin of victory when having a rest disadvantage. Also, the Pelicans are 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings. Ultimately, this is as simple as PELICANS +3.5 (-106) as an insurance play for our money line wager.
TAKE OVER 225.5 (-110), the trends say so. The Pelicans and Pacers’ combined Over/Under record is 57-46-1 and the Over has cashed in the previous two Pelicans-Pacers games. The Over is 12-2 in the Pelicans’ last 14 games following an ATS win and the Over is 4-0 in the Pacers’ last four games following a straight-up loss. Indiana’s Over/Under record with a rest disadvantage is 7-4-1 with a plus-7 average over the projected total. New Orleans has a 12-4 O/U record with a rest advantage.
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The Pelicans’ final road game of the first half of the season comes against a struggling Indiana team on Friday.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers
When: Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m ET
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans
The Pelicans close their brief Midwest road trip and their final road trip of the first half of the season with a trip to Indianapolis on Saturday. After establishing themselves as one of the surprising sides of the Eastern Conference last season, the Pacers have stumbled in recent weeks. Indiana has dropped five of its last six games.
Not coincidentally, those stumbles have come with the reintroduction of Victor Oladipo after over a year-long absence from the lineup with an injury. In his four games since returning, Oladipo has averaged 9.5 points per game but has shot 24.5% from the field and 18.5% from the three-point line.
While the Pacers have struggled on paper recently, the majority of the losses have come against playoff-bound foes. The two most recent losses were to Toronto while Dallas and Portland have wins over Indiana late. The worst loss in the run came to the Knicks in Oladipo’s second game back.
Indiana’s offense has succeeded from range as they rank third in the league in three-point shooting. Overall, the Pacers rank seventh in the league in effective field goal percentage. Indiana is one of the worst teams around the rim, an area New Orleans ranks ninth in the league in defending.
In their previous meeting this season, New Orleans won 120-98.
Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert will have to take charge during Brooklyn’s upcoming road trip.
The Brooklyn Nets have a challenging two-game road trip in front of them. They start things off north of the border on Saturday when they visit the reigning champion — and red-hot — Toronto Raptors. Then the Nets will take a trip to Indiana for a matchup on Monday against the Pacers, who now have Victor Oladipo back.
But while the Pacers have their star guard back in Oladipo, the Nets will be without their superstar guard for both games of this brief trip.
Kyrie Irving has been sidelined for Brooklyn’s last three games with a medial ligament sprain in his right knee, which he suffered in the Nets’ loss to the Washington Wizards on the first day of February.
The team announced Irving would be re-evaluated in a week, but they’re still not prepared to bring him on the road. Brooklyn announced Irving will not hit the road with his team, per Malika Andrews of ESPN.
Previewing Friday’s Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Toronto Raptors (37-14) are at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Friday to play the second half of their home-and-home with the Indiana Pacers (31-20). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Raptors won Wednesday’s game in Toronto 119-118 for their 12th straight victory. We analyze the Raptors-Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Raptors at Pacers: Key Injuries
Raptors
C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
PF Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out
SG Norman Powell (hand) out
Pacers
SG Victor Oladipo (knee) questionable
SF T.J. Warren (concussion) questionable
PF T.J. Leaf (illness) probable
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Raptors at Pacers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Both teams stood pat at Thursday’s trade deadline. The Pacers may be without Oladipo Friday, as the biggest change to Wednesday’s lineups. He scored a season-high 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting in 25 minutes in his third game back from injury but may take his first rest day. The RAPTORS (-110) are getting even odds against the Pacers in a pick ’em while going for a 13th win in a row, and they’re our pick to win.
Toronto is 18-7 on the road, while Indiana sports the same record at home. The Pacers have dropped three straight games, including Wednesday’s loss. The season series is now split at a game apiece.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Raptors to win outright returns a profit of $9.09.
Get better value on the RAPTORS (-1.5, +100) by backing them to win by at least 2 points at even money. A $10 bet will fetch a profit of $10. Toronto is 29-22-0 against the spread overall and 13-12 on the road. Indiana is 28-22-1 ATS overall and 13-11-1 at home.
The Raps failed to cover as 5.5-point favorites Wednesday, as PF Serge Ibaka hit the winning 3-pointer with 30.4 seconds left on the clock.
Back the OVER 218.5 (-106) on a number the two teams combined to crush just two days ago. Both head-to-head games this year have soared past Friday’s projected total. Oladipo hadn’t been counted on for much offense by the Pacers early in his return from injury and won’t be a big loss for team scoring. The Raptors have scored at least 115 points in four of their last five games.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 185-148
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After the trade deadline has come and gone, we took a look at what the projected order of the 2020 NBA Draft will look like this summer.
After the trade deadline has come and gone, we took a look at what the projected order of the 2020 NBA Draft will look like this summer.
Of course, the draft lottery results will shake up where each team will actually select within the first fourteen picks. Plus, the standings are just based on what has happened so far this season. There are teams that can improve as the year progresses with others potentially falling off.
But as of right now, with all of the traded picks, these are the picks that all NBA teams currently have to work with this summer.
Draft order determined by Tankathon and trades pulled from recap by USA TODAY‘s Jeff Zilgitt. Takeaways for teams that made moves are also included below.
FIRST ROUND
1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (Protected: 1-20) 2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (Protected: 1-10) 3. ATLANTA HAWKS
4. NEW YORK KNICKS
5. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
6. CHARLOTTE HORNETS
7. WASHINGTON WIZARDS
8. DETROIT PISTONS
9. CHICAGO BULLS
10. SACRAMENTO KINGS
11. PHOENIX SUNS
12. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
13. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
14. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
15. ORLANDO MAGIC
16. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (via Brooklyn)
17. BOSTON CELTICS (via Memphis)
18. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (via Indiana)
19. BROOKLYN NETS (via Philadelphia)
20. DALLAS MAVERICKS
21. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via Oklahoma City)
22. UTAH JAZZ (Protected: 1-7, 15-30)
23. DENVER NUGGETS (via Houston)
24. MIAMI HEAT
25. OKLAHOMA CITY (via Denver)
26. BOSTON CELTICS
27. NEW YORK KNICKS (via L.A. Clippers)
28. TORONTO RAPTORS
29. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
30. BOSTON CELTICS (via Milwaukee)
SECOND ROUND
31. DALLAS MAVERICKS (via Golden State)
32. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via Cleveland)
33. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via Atlanta)
34. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (via New York)
35. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
36. NEW YORK KNICKS (via Charlotte)
37. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via Washington)
38. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via Detroit)
39. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (via Chicago)
40. SACRAMENTO KINGS
41. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
42. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (via Phoenix)
43. ORLANDO MAGIC
44. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
45. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (Protected: 31-55)
46. BOSTON CELTICS (via Brooklyn)
47. CHICAGO BULLS (via Memphis)
48. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
49. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (via Dallas)
50. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
51. INDIANA PACERS (Protected: 45-60)
52. ATLANTA HAWKS (via Houston)
53. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (via Utah)
54. SACRAMENTO KINGS (via Miami)
55. BROOKLYN NETS (via Denver)
56. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via Boston)
57. L.A. CLIPPERS
58. TORONTO RAPTORS
59. ORLANDO MAGIC (via Los Angeles Lakers)
60. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (via Milwaukee)
Now that the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
EVAN TURNER, MINNESOTA
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $18,606,556
Unlike with Allen Crabbe, the Minnesota Timberwolves have not yet given any playing time to Evan Turner. Even when he was on the Atlanta Hawks, the 31-year-old forward was playing a career-low 13.2 minutes per game. He was, however, playing a career-high 63 percent of his time at the point guard position. Turner may not have much value around the league at this point but the Boston Celtics have already been linked to him for a potential reunion.
BISMACK BIYOMBO, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $17,000,000
Charlotte Hornets veteran big man Bismack Biyombo is certainly one of the candidates for a buyout, though such an agreement may be unlikely. There is at least some incentive for the Hornets to keep Biyombo on their roster as he is currently playing 19.1 minutes per game. That is the most playing time that he has had since 2016-17. Meanwhile, he has also been in the starting lineup for 25 of the 43 games he has played so far this season. It may make the most sense for Biyombo to continue getting his reps up in Charlotte, like Mahinmi with Washington, so that he can prove hs is worth more than a minimum deal in the offseason. However, if a contender expresses interest in a center who is capable of playing in their rotation, perhaps he is willing to leave the Hornets for a winning team.
BRANDON KNIGHT, DETROIT
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,643,750
28-year-old combo guard Brandon Knight was included in a package that sent him from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Detroit Pistons. Knight has only played 241 minutes so far this season, coming off the bench in each of the 16 games he played. That is a stark contrast to last year when he started in 26 of 27 games played for Cleveland. If the Pistons decided to hold on to Knight, it would be a reunion with the organization. He was drafted by Detroit with the No. 8 overall pick back in 2011 and made NBA All-Rookie First Team.
MARVIN WILLIAMS, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,006,250
For a team looking to find a floor-spacing big man, there are few if any better at the price he could be available at then Charlotte Howard forward Marvin Williams. With the emergence of rookie PJ Washington (who was selected to the Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend), Williams has lost the formerly steady role that he once had on his team. He had previously started in every game that he played for the Hornets since 2015-16. Now, he has made only one appearance in their starting lineup this season. His playing time is down to a career-low 19.7 minutes per game. But at 6-foot-8, the forward has made 1.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes in his career and has shot 36.2 percent from downtown. There should be a decent amount of interest in Williams if he and his team agree to a buyout.
SOLOMON HILL, MIAMI
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALARY: $13,290,395
When the Memphis Grizzlies traded Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat, the front office also included Solomon Hill for salary-matching purposes. While he has largely fallen out of favor on the teams he has played for over the past few years, the 6-foot-6 wing was shooting a career-best 38.1 percent from the three-point line this season. He had also made a career-best 2.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes during his time in Memphis. According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the 28-year-old was told by the front office that he should plan to remain with the team “barring something unforeseen” happening. But in the NBA, those types of unforeseen situations happen all of the time.
MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $13,000,000
It was less than eight years ago when Anthony Davis was selected at No. 1 overall in the 2012 NBA draft. The player selected next was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The contrast between these picks remains absolutely deafening as hindsight rears its ugly head. The 26-year-old is down to a career-low 13.3 minutes per game and has only made twelve appearances for his team. With only 160 minutes offered to him this year, Charlotte has likely moved on. He may still have suitors around the NBA due to his defensive ability. According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Houston Rockets organization “has liked him for some time” and would be willing to take a flyer on him. The Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell recently reported that the Dallas Mavericks are also “kicking tires” on Kidd-Gilchrist.
COURTNEY LEE, DALLAS
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $12,759,670
The reality of the situation is that Courtney Lee was only included in a trade to the Dallas Mavericks for salary-cap filler so that they could land Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. During his two seasons with the team so far, he has played just 10.9 minutes per game in 33 total appearances. The 6-foot-5 wing has virtually no role on the Mavericks and despite their record being that of a contender thus far, perhaps another team would take a look at what Lee could offer them. The 34-year-old has shot 38.8 percent from three during his career, hitting 1.4 three-pointers per 36 minutes.
JOHN HENSON, DETROIT
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,732,396
The Detroit Pistons had to cut one of the players on their roster after trading away Andre Drummond in a two-for-one deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They reportedly opted to go with Tim Frazier rather than Knight or John Henson. This makes sense as Henson may play some of the minutes that Drummond was giving Detroit. He recorded a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in his most recent game for the Cavaliers on February 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was his first game in the starting lineup since January 5 and just his second time in the first unit all season. More likely than not, though, he will join Thon Maker as backcourt depth in Detroit behind 24-year-old Christian Wood and rookie forward Sekou Doumbouya.
MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA, CLEVELAND
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,607,500
There is hardly a role for Matthew Dellavedova on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their team already has three promising young guards selected in the past two NBA drafts in Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. and all require playing time for their development. Meanwhile, they recently traded Jordan Clarkson to land the 24-year-old Dante Exum. Dellavedova has not been in an NBA starting lineup since December 23, 2017. Unfortunately, his most valuable skill set (three-point shooting) has taken a major plummet this year. His career mark from downtown (36.7 percent) is suddenly down to an abysmal rate (16.4 percent) so far this season. It dampers any of the market that would have otherwise been interested in signing him.
YOGI FERRELL, SACRAMENTO
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $3,150,000
Sacramento Kings guard Yogi Ferrell does not make very much money and has a lower salary than anyone else on this list. However, he is playing at a career-low 11.4 minutes per game and was scratched from the lineup in the most recent game for the team. Ferrell is buried in their backcourt rotation behind emerging star De’Aaron Fox and backup point guard Cory Joseph. While there may not be much of a market for the six-foot playmaker, he has averaged 4.0 assists with 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes in his NBA career. Still only 26 years old, there may be at least one contender that would be willing to give him minutes in their rotation.
Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?
Each week, HoopsHype’s staff gives the Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. This list highlights stars who are in the mix for the 2019-20 MVP award due to their impressive play.
Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:
This season has been a rollercoaster for the Philadelphia 76ers, who have gone on several hot and cold streaks. The point forward has made 271 field goals in the restricted area this season, which ranks fourth-best in the league. His unique size has helped him pull down rebounds on 5.5 percent of his squad’s missed field goals, per Cleaning The Glass, which is the best rate among point guards. Simmons also has defensive rebounds on 31.7 percent of opponent’s missed free throws, also the best among point guards. On the defensive end, Simmons is averaging an NBA-best 2.1 steals per game. He also leads all players in both loose balls recovered (87) and deflections (190) this season.
Jimmy Butler has found a perfect home on the Miami Heat. The five-time All-Star is averaging 1.46 points per possession in transition, which ranks No. 1 in the league (minimum: 100 possessions) in 2019-20. He just put up a season-high 39 points per game against the Philadelphia 76ers. His career-best assist rate (28.6 percent) puts him in the 96th percentile among all NBA wings. Butler has been a fantastic hustler, too. He currently ranks sixth-best in steals (1.8 SPG), sixth-best in deflections per game (3.6) and sixth-best in loose balls recovered per game (1.6) thus far.
Once again, Kawhi Leonard is having a sensational season on both ends of the court. The biggest issue is that he has only played 38 games, though the Clippers have won 30 of those. He is averaging 2.1 steals per game since January, tied with Simmons for the best in the NBA. The Clippers have scored 120.4 points per 100 possessions with Leonard on the court since December 1. That gives Leonard the second-best offensive rating among all players in the league (minimum: 25 minutes per game) during that span.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic has been one of the most multidimensional players in the league over the past few seasons. He is shooting 43.7 percent on jump shots, which ranks Top 10 among all players who have taken at least 400 jumpers thus far. The center ranks second-best in the NBA on field goals made (77) within five to nine feet of the basket. His field goal percentage (61.6 percent) is the best among those with more than thirty attempts. He has recorded 10 triple-doubles in 2019-20, which ranks third-best in the NBA. His assist percentage (34.5 percent) and assist-to-usage rate (1.19) are both in the 100th percentile among all big men, per Cleaning the Glass.
The second-year superstar has been sensational for the Mavericks, leading Dallas to an impressive 62.0 winning percentage this season. His team has played very well even when they are not playing at home, as we recently noted. The guard has averaged 29.1 points per game on the road, second-best in the NBA. Doncic has scored 13.9 PPG as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll possessions, per Synergy Sports, which ranks third-best in the league. As a primary playmaker, his assist percentage (53.8 percent) ranks second-best behind only LeBron James among those with at least 100 minutes played. He leads the league with a dozen triple-doubles so far this season.
Davis is shooting 210-of-280 (75.0 percent) in the restricted area, which is the best among all players who have had at least 200 attempts this season. The big man is averaging 1.12 points per possession, according to Synergy Sports, which ranks second-best among those who have finished at least 800 possessions this season. Davis has more loose balls recovered per game (1.9) than anyone who has played at least ten games. The Lakers are currently 33-9 (.786 percent) in games when their superstar acquisition has played.
Since our last MVP Race update, Portland’s Damian Lillard is averaging 39.0 points with 5.8 three-pointers per game. The Trail Blazers have three wins and just one loss during this stretch, helping bounce back from a rough start to the season. Lillard is also leading the league in scoring with 34.3 PPG since January 1. He has hit 66 three-pointers from at least 28 feet, which is over five feet from beyond the NBA’s three-point line. That is over a dozen more than anyone else in the league has made in 2019-20. He is averaging 1.13 points per possession, per Synergy Sports, which ranks No. 1 overall among those who have finished at least 800 possessions this season. Lillard also leads all players with 757 points scored as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll possessions.
Knowing that narrative plays a big role in MVP voting, the momentum is there for the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James. He currently leads the league with 10.7 assists per game. The 35-year-old superstar is also putting up a career-high 2.1 three-pointers connected per game, including five three’s in less than three minutes against the San Antonio Spurs last night. He keeps putting up monumental performances, putting up outstanding numbers while also helping elevate the play of another star teammate in Davis. The more he keeps winning for the Lakers, the better the odds he will have of winning his fifth Most Valuable Player Award.
Harden has connected on 208 non-corner three-pointers, over twenty more than anyone else has hit thus far. The guard leads the league in jump shots (313) in 2019-20. He has once again been fantastic creating his own shot, too. Only 14.6 percent of his three-pointers have been assisted, which is the best among all players in the NBA. Harden has scored 16.2 points per game on isolation possessions, per Synergy, which is nearly ten points more than any other player in the league. In fact, his 762 points scored on this play type is more than any other team besides his own Houston Rockets. To put that in perspective, the Milwaukee Bucks lead the Eastern Conference with just 386 points scored in isolation.
He is averaging 8.7 points per game when operating in a transition offense, per Synergy. That ranks No. 1 overall in the NBA, over a point and a half more than anyone else thus far. He has the second-most dunks (141) and the most double-doubles (41) among all players in the league in 2019-20. His rebound percentage (18.8 percent) ranks Top 10 among all players who have averaged at least 20 minutes per game. Most important, though: Milwaukee is currently outscoring opponents by 14.4 points per 100 possessions when he has been on the court so far this season. That ranks as the best among those who have averaged at least 25 minutes per game.
Previewing Wednesday’s Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Toronto Raptors (36-14) host the Indiana Pacers (31-19) for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off at Scotiabank Arena Wednesday. We analyze the Pacers-Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Raptors at Pacers: Key Injuries
Raptors
C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
PF Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out
SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle) questionable
SG Norman Powell (finger) out
Pacers
SF T.J. Warren (concussion) out
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Raptors at Pacers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:40 a.m. ET.
The Pacers (+200) have been slipping of late despite having SG Victor Oladipo back in the lineup. They’re 6-4 across their last 10 games and enter Wednesday on a two-game slide with home losses against the Dallas Mavericks (112-103) and New York Knicks (92-85). The RAPTORS (-250) are laying a fair amount of chalk, but they’re a safe play on an 11-game winning streak. Their most recent conquest was by a 129-102 count over the Chicago Bulls Sunday.
Toronto also hosts the first half of this home-and-home where it is 18-7 for the season. Indiana is also 18-7 at home but just 13-12 on the road. The Pacers claimed a 120-115 overtime win Dec. 23 in the first head-to-head meeting of the season, but the Raptors were without All-Star starter PF Pascal Siakam, Gasol and Powell. They’re worth a play on the ML, but the spread will be more profitable.
The RAPTORS (-5.5, -115) should be backed to win by at least 6 points for a greater profit margin. The Pacers’ last two losses came by greater margins against inferior teams; nine of the Raptors’ last 11 wins were by margins of 6 or more points.
Toronto is 29-21 against the spread overall and 16-9 at home, while Indiana is 27-22-1 ATS overall and 14-11 on the road. The Pacers are just 4-7 ATS with the rest disadvantage and the Raps are 15-7 ATS as home favorites.
Back the OVER 215.5 (-121). Both teams are 26-23-1 against the Over/Under for the season. The first meeting played to a combined total of 235 points, including the overtime session, and both sides were at less than full health. Toronto is 19-13-1 against the O/U in games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 179-146
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Previewing Monday’s Dallas Mavericks at Indiana Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Dallas Mavericks (30-19) visit the Indiana Pacers (31-18) Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Mavericks-Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Mavericks at Pacers: Key Injuries
Mavericks
PG Seth Curry (knee) out
SG Luka Doncic (ankle) out
C Dwight Powell (Achilles’) out
Pacers
SF T.J. Warren (concussion) out
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Mavericks at Pacers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.
The Pacers (-189) are coming off an ugly 92-85 home loss to the New York Knicks Saturday. They’re just 3-3 across their last six games, but still 7-3 over their last 10 contests. They have been strong at home with an 18-6 record. The MAVERICKS (+155) are still without Doncic, but they dropped the lowly Atlanta Hawks by a 123-100 count Saturday and are 6-4 over their last 10 games. Road games haven’t been an issue for Dallas with a 16-7 record away from home.
I’m backing the visitors as a strong value play. The absence of Doncic is significant, but there remains enough talent on the Mavericks’ roster, led by PF Kristaps Porzingis and SG Tim Hardaway Jr.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Mavericks to win outright returns a profit of $15.50.
While I like the Mavs to win straight up as underdogs, back DALLAS (+4.5, -110) on the spread for some added insurance. They’ll need to stay within 4 points in a loss or win outright.
The Mavericks are 26-20-3 against the spread overall and 15-5-2 on the road. The Pacers are 27-21-1 ATS overall and 13-10-1 at home.
Play the UNDER 218.5 (-110) with either side missing a top scorer. Warren ranks second on the Pacers with 18.1 points per game, while Doncic leads the Mavs with 28.8 PPG. SG Victor Oladipo is back in the lineup for Indiana, but he has yet to top 10 points while playing in a limited role off the bench.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 172-145
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Previewing Saturday’s New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The New York Knicks (13-36) visit the Indiana Pacers (31-17) Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Knicks-Pacers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Knicks at Pacers: Key Injuries
Knicks
SG RJ Barrett (ankle) out
PG Frank Ntilikina (groin) probable
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Knicks at Pacers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 9:25 a.m. ET.
The Pacers (-589) have their full lineup for Saturday’s home date with the Knicks (+425), and they’re rightfully commanding favorites. Pacers SG Victor Oladipo returned to the lineup Wednesday and put up 9 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds in his first 21 minutes of the 2019-20 season. Indiana is 8-2 across its last 10 games and 18-5 on home court for the season.
New York is 3-7 across its last 10 games and a woeful 6-18 on the road. Both teams last played Wednesday, when the Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 115-106 in overtime and the Knicks lost 127-106 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Pacers are the easy choice to win this game, but we don’t swallow that kind of chalk around here. PASS on the moneyline in favor of the spread.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Pacers to win outright returns a profit of just $1.70.
The spread becomes a little more interesting, with the PACERS (-10.5, -115) needing to win by at least 11 points. They’re still the pick, despite beating the Knicks by a narrow 104-103 count Dec. 7 in the season’s first head-to-head meeting.
The Pacers are 27-20-1 against the spread overall and 13-9-1 on their home floor. The Knicks are 25-24 ATS overall and 12-12 on the road. Indiana is 20-8-1 ATS when playing on equal rest as its opposition. New York is 13-11 ATS in the same situation.
Take the OVER 213.5 (-115) on a low projection. I expect a better offensive performance from Oladipo in his second game back from injury. The Knicks are also missing a key defender in Ntilikina. The Pacers have scored at least 110 points in each of their last four games.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 170-140
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
