Every playoff team wants to peak as the postseason approaches, but that hasn’t been the case of late for the Indiana Pacers or the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams have lost the majority of their recent games and are hoping to break out of that funk this week. They are both battling for playoff positioning in their respective conferences so this head-to-head showdown is critical.
The Thunder has a slightly inferior record but it is the home team and has more high-end talent, which will make it the favorite in this game. The Pacers would love to pull off the upset, and it would continue a theme of surpassing expectations all season long in NBA odds.
This NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will be held at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 27th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Pacers have a record of 45-29 on the season. They broke a losing streak in an impressive fashion last time out, dismantling the Nuggets in an easy win. Indiana is 17-20 away from home this year so will need to step it up in order to win this contest.
Oklahoma City has a mark of 43-30. Like Indiana, the Thunder was able to bust out of a four-game losing streak with a win last time out by knocking off the Raptors. Oklahoma City is 23-12 at home on the year in NBA gambling.
Key Stat
103.9. The Pacers don’t have the same superstar names dotting the roster as the Thunder, but they get the job done on the defensive end of the court. Indiana is arguably the best defensive team in the NBA and will always make its opponents work for good shots, as that is the number of points per game it allows on the year.
It’s hard to control the likes of Russell Westbrook and Paul George, but if Indiana can force the OKC star duo into outside shots, it should have a chance to stay close. The Thunder is averaging 114.5 points per game this season so this will be an interesting clash of styles.
The Pacers will look to keep the pace manageable rather than getting into a run-and-gun affair with the more talented Thunder.
Injury Report
Pacers guard Darren Collison is dealing with a quad injury which kept him out of the team’s win over Denver. Collison is a key piece of the puzzle for Indiana as he is averaging 11.3 points, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game on the season.
Collison has missed the past three games due to the injury and it is something to watch closely. He is a talented defender and would be a welcome addition in trying to slow down Westbrook.
Free NBA ATS Picks
It has been a clunky stretch for Oklahoma City, and most people believe it will win this game because of the bigger names. However, the Pacers are a tough out and this is a good matchup for them. Look for Indiana to really focus on George and Westbrook, which will make the OKC duo either take tough shots or pass the ball to their teammates.
The game plan could be enough for an unlikely Pacers win. Take Indiana on the road on the moneyline in NBA gambling.
NBA ATS Pick: Indiana Pacers 108, Oklahoma City Thunder 107
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