Philadelphia vs Indiana NBA Hoops Handicapping
The Philadelphia 76ers arrive in Indiana trying to avoid tying the record for the longest losing streak in NBA history, but will have to contend with the best home-court team in the league, when they square off against the Pacers on Monday night. [ad-4468020]
Date/Time: 7 PM ET, Monday, March 17, 2014
Venue:Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Broadcast: CSN/FSMW
Spread: -20 Indiana
Over/Under: 203
Odds From [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Insight | CappersPicks Insider Preview
The 76ers (15-51) never had a chance on Saturday, losing to the Memphis Grizzlies, 107-77.
Philly shot a dismal 37.3 percent while going 6-for-23 from 3-point range en route to a season-low point total, and a franchise record-tying 20th consecutive loss.
Michael Carter-Williams led all scorers with 23 points for the 76ers, who finished with a 42-41 rebounding edge but was outscored 50-46 in the paint
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NBA Season Package Today!
Williams leads all rookies in points (16.8), rebounds (5.7), assists (6.2) and steals (1.94), and is the only thing Philadelphia has to be excited about the rest of this season.
Meanwhile, the Pacers (49-17), who have won three straight after a season-high four-game losing streak, and are three games out in front of Miami for the top seed in the Eastern Conference following a 112-104 overtime victory at Detroit on Saturday.
[ad-6571516]
Indiana erased a 25-point second-quarter deficit, rallying for their 17th victory after trailing at halftime.
Paul George had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals while Evan Turner added 20 points off the bench.
The Pacers will hope to get more from Turner than they did in his first meeting with his former team, as he managed only two points in 21 minutes off the bench in Friday’s 101-94 win at Philadelphia.
It was the second time Indiana has beaten the Sixers’ this season, the first was 106-98 win back in Nov. 23 at home.
Matt’s Prediction:
If the Pacers can grab a win it will be the first season series sweep since 2003-04.
But Indiana will need to continue to take very good care of the ball, as the 76ers force a league-high 17.2 turnovers per game.
In the meantime, the Sixers’ do have one of the worst defenses in the league this year, allowing a horrible 110.8 points per game.
But while I totally expect the Pacers to win this one straight up at home, the value here may be on the Sixers’ and the points, as this is an awful big cushion, even for a team that is as good at home as Indiana.
Pacers 107, 76ers 93
