NBA Betting? Pelicans vs Pacers Predictions
Tuesday night NBA betting action sees the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
Even with an above .500 record, the Pelicans find themselves in a difficult situation.
NBA Basketball Odds
New Orleans Pelicans (14-13) vs. Indiana Pacers (9-19)
Tuesday, Dec. 23
7:00 PM ET
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
FSMW
NBA Basketball Betting Lines: Indiana -1
NBA Basketball O/U: 192
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Being stuck in one of the best divisions in the NBA, New Orleans comes into Tuesdays action in last place in the NBA Southwest division.
New Orleans
While star PF Anthony Davis has led New Orleans to a successful start, the New Orleans Pelicans still find themselves in the cellar of the NBA Southwest standings.
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Winners of 3 of their last 4 games, Davis comes in perhaps off his best game of the season, scoring 38 points in a 101-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Leading the way with 24.7 points a game and 10.2 rebounds a game, Anthony Davis is putting up sensational numbers in what could possibly be an MVP season. While he’s received help from the likes of Tyreke Evans and Ryan Anderson, the Pelicans have failed to show any depth thus far. Contributions from Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers will be a must if the Pelicans hope to move up in the Southwest standings.
The key to success for New Orleans this season has been their ability to score over 100 points a game. As a team, they are averaging 102.5 points per contest (12th) and are shooting 46.0 percent from the field. Led by Omer Asik and his 10.6 rebounds per game, the Pelicans are averaging 43.0 rebounds as a team (13th).
While the offense has shown it’s moments, the Pelicans know they need to start stepping up on defense. Allowing 102.4 points against (22nd), New Orleans allows opponents to shoot just under 47 percent.
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Getting that number down is essential to their success in the coming games.
Indiana
While Indiana continues to battle the injury bug, they still are playing decent basketball for what they have. They simply do not have an outstanding scorer, rebounder, or assist man they can look to in clutch situations. That being said, they’ll come into this match up with the Pelicans winners of 6 straight in the head-to-head battle.
Following an 8 game losing streak, the Pacers have used their high pressured defense to grab 2 wins in their last 4 games. While that doesn’t seem like much, it is by a far a step in the right direction for a struggling team. Indiana ranks 3rd overall in the NBA with 96.5 points against. That number drops a full point to 95.2 points against when the Pacers are playing inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The problem so far in their 2014-2015 campaign has been lack of offensive production. The Pacers are scoring just 93.6 points a game (29th). Since PF David West returned from injury, he has picked up a little slack averaging 12.8 points to lead Indiana. The offense may receive a little boost with George Hill expected to return to the line up Tuesday.
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Indiana will look to win back-to-back games for just the 3rd time this season on Tuesday.
NBA Basketball Trends:
- Pelicans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Pelicans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Central.
- Pacers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Pacers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
Free 4* NBA Basketball Pick: New Orleans +1
Even with the struggles the Pelicans have had on the road, especially in Indiana, they still the far more superior team in this matchup.
New Orleans 102, Indiana 94
Expect Anthony Davis to repeat a performance like the one he had in Oklahoma City en route to a Pelicans road victory.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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