Nets vs. Pacers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
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Andrew Rogers
The Brooklyn Nets are doing what bettors and fans thought they’d do once they acquired James Harden – and they’ll look to keep doing it as they carry a three-game winning streak into Thursday’s showdown with the host Indiana Pacers. The Nets own a one-game advantage over the Philadelphia 76ers atop the Eastern Conference standings and they’re heavily favoured to extend that hot stretch against a Pacers team that will likely have to settle for a play-in spot.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Even with the Nets as good as they are, they’ve only been favoured by this many points on the road four other times this season – and the results are sobering for the betting public. Brooklyn is just 1-3 straight up and against the spread when giving 8+ points on the road, a stretch that includes losses to Orlando, Cleveland and Charlotte. Still, Sports Interaction customers are undeterred: they’re siding with the Nets -8.5 at a 77 per cent clip.
The total is a sky-high 240 – and two-thirds of Sports Interaction respondents still think that’s too low. The Nets have actually cashed the Under in four of their last six games overall, and five of their past seven away from Barclays Center (including a 116-103 win vs. Toronto with a total of 232 last time out). And while the Pacers are on a solid Over stretch themselves (7-3 O/U in the past 10), the teams have come in below the number in four of their past six meetings.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets will only go as far as their wonky defence will take them – and there have been plenty of positive signs on that front in recent games. Brooklyn has allowed an average of 108.7 points over the course of its three-game winning streak, well below its season average of 115.2 points against per game. On offence, bettors might want to consider the Over on Kevin Durant’s point prop, with the star forward looking as close to full health as he has all season.
Indiana Pacers
Every team has had to deal with injuries in what has been a completely topsy-turvy NBA season – but you can’t blame the Pacers for feeling like they got the short end of the health stick. Only one of their rotation players (Justin Holiday) has appeared in all 61 games this season, with Malcom Brogdon (six games), Domantas Sabonis (eight) and Myles Turner (14) have all been out of action for extended periods at various points during the campaign.
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