Pacers vs. Raptors Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
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Charlie Grant
The Toronto Raptors are the hottest team in the NBA, but rumours of a potential Masai Ujiri departure are dampening the mood in the Six. The Dinos hope to extend their league-best 11 game win streak when they play host to Domantas Sabonis and the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Pacers are coming off a 112-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. Indiana is now just 1-3 straight up and against the spread in its last four games. The Pacers are five games back of the Raptors in the East standings and a half game up on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Indiana is 6-2 against the number in its last eight road games and 5-1 ATS in its last six games coming off a loss. The club ranks in the top 10 of the league in defensive net rating (107.5 points allowed per 100 possessions), and 26th in pace (98.56 possessions per 48 minutes). Still the Pacers have played Over the total 26 times and Under the number just 23 with one push.
Nate McMillan’s squad beat the Raptors 120-115 just before Christmas but failed to cover as a 5.5-point home favourite. The Pacers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the Raptors despite winning each of the last two matchups.
Toronto is coming off a 129-102 home win against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. The Raptors are 8-3 ATS over the course of their 11-game win streak. The Dinos are holding onto second place in the East and only the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have more wins this season.
The Drakes are on course to win 61 games this season despite winning 58 a year ago with Kawhi Leonard on the roster. Sports Interaction lists the Raptors odds to repeat as NBA champions at +2000.
Indiana Pacers
Victor Oladipo is back but the former All-Star two-guard is on a minutes restriction. He’s been a full-year recovery from a gruesome knee injury and the Pacers want Oladipo to be healthy come playoff time.
While it’s great to see him back on the court, Pacers fans wish his jump shot would return. Oladipo is 8-for-39 from the field – and 3-for-21 from 3-point range – since returning to the lineup.
Toronto Raptors
The Knicks fired team president Steve Mills on Tuesday and NBA insider extraordinaire Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the club is targeting Masai Ujiri as his replacement. The Raptors have Ujiri under contract for this season and next. New York would have to offer the Raptors draft compensation to try to poach their team president of basketball operations.