The following will look at the best Pacers vs. Pelicans odds and predictions.
The Indiana Pacers (17-16) conclude a three-game road trip in the Big Easy against the New Orleans Pelicans (20-12) in one of seven games on Monday’s NBA schedule. The Pacers turned back the Pelicans 129-122, on November 7, behind Myles Turner’s season-high 37 points. Tipoff for the final of the team’s two-game series at the Smoothie King Center is 8:00 p.m. (ET).
The following is a look at the Pacers vs Pelicans betting info.
Pacers vs. Pelicans Game Info and Analysis
Matchup Info
- Date and Time: December 26, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
- Location: New Orleans
- Venue: Smoothie King Center
- How to watch: Bally Sports Network
Pacers Performance Recap and Analysis
Indiana, one of the most surprising teams in the NBA, is off to its best start through the first 33 games in three seasons at 17-16. The Pacers won the first two games of their current road trip to improve to 8-9 away from home on the season.
The Pacers defeated the Celtics 117-112 on Wednesday. They then nipped the Heat (111-108) as Tyrese Haliburton knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with four seconds left, his 10th of the game. Haliburton has produced 76 points during these past two games, tossing in a career-high 43 against the Heat.
Indiana is an average to the below-average team on both ends of the court, per NBA team stats. The Pacers are not a good shooting team overall. But they are one of the top 3-point shooting squads, and they love to launch shots from beyond the arc.
The Pacers also like to push the tempo and thrive in transition. They are decent on the offensive glass though turnovers are a problem.
Indiana plays hard and is very active on the defensive end. While the Pacers defend decently well overall, they are at their best when they use their defense to create offense. They force 16.2 turnovers a game and average 18.3 points off of them. Defending the 3-point line and defensive rebounding are their most prominent issues.
Haliburton has been fantastic in his first full season with the Pacers. According to NBA player stats, Haliburton is one of two players averaging 20 points and ten assists a game. Like Haliburton, Turner is producing a career year offensively, while Buddy Hield and rookie Bennedict Mathurin have been solid.
Key Injuries
The Pacers have two key rotational players listed on the injury report, Jalen Smith and Aaron Nesmith. Smith and Nesmith are both questionable for tonight due to ankle ailments. Nesmith sat out Friday.
Betting Trends to Know
Indiana is 19-14-0 against the Spread, covering their last two games and four of five. The Pacers are also 10-7 ATS on the road. They have been an underdog in all but three games.
The Under is 18-14-1 in the Pacers’ 33 games. The Under has hit in three straight games and 11 of the Pacers’ 17 road contests.
Pelicans Performance Recap and Analysis
New Orleans has been one the best teams in the Western Conference all season long despite being without star forward Brandon Ingram (toe) for over half the season.
The Pelicans, beginning a three-game homestand, have won their last two outings. CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III stepped up their offensive production in these two contests, with Zion Williamson unable to go.
The Pelicans sit in fourth place in the West with a 20-12 record. They are 13-4 at home, having won eight of their last nine at the Smoothie King Center.
New Orleans, arguably the deepest team in the league, has been excellent on both ends of the court this season. Among the best shooting and rebounding teams, the Pelicans are the only squad with a top 6 ranked offense and defense. Rim protection is their biggest issue on the defensive end.
Williamson has been one of the most consistent scorers in the league and has upped his production over the last ten games. The Pelicans have 12 players averaging at least five points a game, including nine compiling eight or more points.
Key Injuries
Ingram (toe), out for the 14th straight game, and Larry Nance Jr. are the two most significant players on the injury report. Nance (Achilles) has missed the past three games and is questionable for tonight. The biggest news is that Williamson is expected to play after clearing health and safety protocols on Sunday.
Betting Trends to Know
New Orleans is 17-15-0 against the Spread, covering in two straight though they are 2-5 ATS in their last seven. The Pelicans are 10-7 ATS at home.
The Over is 19-13 in the Pelicans games this season, hitting in five straight games and 7 of 10. However, the Under is 9-8 in games at the Smoothie Center.
Pacers vs. Pelicans Odds
The Pelicans are -6.5 point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 232.5 Points, according to NBA odds today. The Moneyline lists the Pacers at +210 and the Pelicans at -250.
So should you take the Pacers or the Pelicans? After reviewing the Pacers vs Pelicans betting info, it is time to make the best NBA picks today.
Pacers vs. Pelicans Betting Predictions
Moneyline
While this is one of the best NBA matchups today, the Pelicans are the better team with Williamson on the court. The Pelicans, one of the best teams at home, have been rolling at home lately.
They also have a huge advantage inside and should take advantage of the Pacers’ inability to keep their opposition out of the paint. Indiana is great on the road, and they are 4-11 against teams with an above .500 record.
However, there is no value in taking the Pelicans at -250.
Over/Under
The O/U line is a little high. Go with the under, as the projection of total points here is between 229.0-230.
The Pelicans are much better defensively at home, and the average score of the 13 games Pelicans games that Williamson has played without Ingram is 230.2.
Moreover, the Pacers have struggled to score on the road, tallying nearly four points fewer than at home. They are also capable of slowing down the high-powered Pelicans defensively.
Spread
Take Indiana and the points. The projected Pacers vs Pelicans betting line should be between -4.0-to-5.0 for handicappers to feel comfortable taking New Orleans.
Both teams perform exceptionally well on two days’ rest. The Pelicans’ average margin of victory in the previously mentioned 13 games (with Williamson/without Ingram) is + 4.5.
The Pacers have gotten outscored by an average of 3.6 points on the road this season. That deficit has risen to -4.6 over their last seven road contests. Haliburton and Hield are playing their best basketball of the season, and Turner can be a formidable foe in the interior.
Pacers vs. Pelicans Score Prediction
New Orleans 117, Indiana 112
NBA Pick: Pelicans -6.5
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