Tag: Nate McMillan

Reggie Miller was asked about Victor …

Reggie Miller was asked about Victor Oladipo’s return to the lineup and what that meant for the Pacers. Miller shared what he said heard from Pacers coach Nate McMillan before the matchup. “This lineup for the Pacers is the future,” Miller said. The lineup Miller referred to consists of Oladipo, Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.

Pierce is one of seven African-American …

Pierce is one of seven African-American head coaches in the NBA, and the roll call was quite easy when he was prompted: Doc Rivers, Alvin Gentry, Nate McMillan, Dwane Casey, J.B. Bickerstaff and Monty Williams. That number may seem paltry, considering there are 30 teams and around 75 percent of the players are black, but it’s better than the other major professions sports, particularly the NFL.

New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers odds, picks and best bets

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.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

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.

Prediction

Pelicans 118, Pacers 113

Moneyline (ML)

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.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

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. 

Over/Under (O/U)

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.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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A team working under Indiana’s …

A team working under Indiana’s constraints needs every edge it can find. This is a franchise that generally ranks in the bottom third of the league in terms of payroll, doesn’t have the benefit of spending into the luxury tax, and has to convince young millionaires to come to one of the NBA’s smallest, coldest markets. “You can’t compete with L.A.,” McMillan says, “even though you do compete with L.A.” The strongest appeal is to give players a chance to win—to be a part of a team that plays hard and hits its ceiling.