The Indiana Pacers invade the Smoothie King Center to battle the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers Pick.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have lost three of their first five games overall, but they will be feeling much better after snapping a three-game skid with an impressive 135-132 overtime win over the red-hot Celtics on Wednesday. Benedict Mathurin led the team with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists on nine of 17 shooting off the bench, Pascal Siakam added 29 points with 11 rebounds and five assists, Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench while Tyrese Haliburton chipped in with 17 points and 12 assists. As a team, the Pacers shot 48 percent from the field and 15 of 38 from the 3-point line as they squandered a 24-point lead in regulation, but they played great defense to limit the Celtics to just eight points in overtime to escape with the statement win at home.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have gone cold lately as they are now looking to put an end to a three-game slide after getting routed by the Warriors in a 104-89 road loss on Wednesday. Jordan Hawkins led the team with 23 points, Jose Alverado added 16 points with four assists while Brandon Ingram chipped in with 14 points and six assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot just 36 percent from the field and 11 of 36 from the 3-point line which was still good enough to keep them within striking distance until the third quarter when the Warriors started to pull away. Zion Williamson had a mixed outing as he tallied 12 points with 12 rebounds, but he also shot just five of 20 from the field while committing four turnovers. The Pelicans will meet the Hawks after this game.
Why the Indiana Pacers will win
- The Pacers have won five of their last six games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Pelicans have lost eight of their last 10 games at Smoothie King Center.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Pacers teams that held a losing record.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the Pelicans’ last four games at Smoothie King Center.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Pelicans’ last nine games as home underdogs have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Eight of the Pacers’ last nine games as road favorites have gone UNDER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
The Pacers could be shorthanded once again with Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner both listed as questionable, while the Pelicans have ruled out CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray with Daniel Theis also listed as questionable. The Pacers have yet to fully hit their stride this season, but they would’ve taken so much confidence from their upset win over the streaking Celtics in their last outing. The Pelicans are really struggling, they are missing some key players and I don’t think they are getting enough points from the bookies on this occasion.