The NBA play-in tournament goes on with the 8th seed game in the Eastern Conference, so I’ve prepared the best Indiana Pacers vs. Washington Wizards betting pick for their Thursday night’s showdown at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Wizards opened as slight 3-point favorites on BetRivers Sportsbook, while the totals sit at 238.5 points. Washington swept the Pacers in a three-game regular-season series, and the over hit on all three occasions, as we saw some proper high-scoring affairs (132-124, 154-141, and 133-132).
The Pacers seek revenge after smashing Charlotte in the previous round
The Indiana Pacers demolished the Charlotte Hornets in their opening game of the play-in tournament this past Tuesday. They cruised to a 144-117 victory, easily covering a 3-point spread even though Caris LeVert sat out the clash due to the medical protocols.
Domantas Sabonis led the way for the shorthanded Pacers last Tuesday, accounting for 14 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists. Indiana shot terrific 55.2% from the field and 45.7% from beyond the arc while scoring a whopping 74 points in the paint.
Caris LeVert will remain sidelined for at least a week, so the Pacers will miss four important players Thursday, as Myles Turner (toe), T.J. Warren (foot), and Jeremy Lamb (knee) are all out. Indiana will continue to lean heavily on Sabonis, while Malcolm Brogdon (21.2 PPG, 5.9 APG) returned from a ten-game absence last Tuesday to drop 16 points on the Hornets.
The Wizards look to bounce back from a horrible shooting night
The Washington Wizards suffered a painful 118-100 loss at the Boston Celtics in their battle for the No. 7 seed in the East this past Tuesday. They went only 3-for-21 from beyond the 3-point line and finished with just 17 assists on their tally, so the Wizards desperately need to get things going after this offensive dud.
Bradley Beal led the way for Washington with 22 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but he shot 10-for-25 from the field and 1-for-6 from downtown. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, 14 boards, and five assists while making six of his 18 field-goal attempts.
The Wizards are without Thomas Bryant (knee) and Deni Avdija (ankle), while Bradley Beal is struggling with a hamstring injury. Beal isn’t fully ready to play but will certainly give it a go, as the Wizards need his points against the Pacers’ leaky defense.
Trends:
Indiana:
- 5-0 ATS in the last five games overall
- 6-1 ATS in the last seven tilts against the Eastern Conference
Washington:
- 3-6 ATS in the last nine games against Indiana
- 5-11 ATS in the last 16 home tilts against Indiana
These two foes already met twice this month, and their previous encounter was a proper nail-biter, as Washington outlasted Indiana in overtime, 133-132. I’m looking for another dramatic finish, and with the season on the line, I would be surprised if any team wins comfortably.
If you want to take the risk, go with any team to win by five or fewer points at +190 odds. Both teams are struggling defensively, and I think the Pacers will keep it close thanks to their inside game. Domantas Sabonis will dominate the Wizards’ frontcourt, but the Pacers will also struggle to slow down the Wizards’ offense.
Pick: Take Indiana Pacers +5.0 at -150
The Total:
I’m not going to overthink the totals after some ridiculous score lines between these two teams in the regular season. Also, the over is 9-4 in the previous 13 meetings between the Pacers and Wizards in Washington, and it is 5-1 in Indiana’s last six outings on the road.
The Wizards play at the fastest pace in the NBA, recording 104.1 possessions per 48 minutes. On the other side, the Pacers are fourth with 101.6 possessions per 48 minutes.
Pick: Go over 238.5 points at -110