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Two Eastern Conference teams fighting for playoff seeding face off in D.C. as the Pacers travel to take on the Wizards. The Pacers lead the all time series 98-78, and the 2 teams have split their last 10 head to head matchups 5-5.
The Pacers last game came against Golden State on Monday at home, which they lost 132-100. Last Wednesday (1/23) they beat the Raptors at home 110-106, and on Saturday they lost 106-103 against the Grizzlies in Memphis.
The Wizards lost their last time out 132-119 in San Antonio against the Spurs on Sunday. Last Thursday (1/24) they lost 126-118 to the Warriors at home, and on Friday they beat the Magic 95-91 in Orlando.
On the season, Indiana is 24-24-1 ATS, 11-12-1 ATS on the road, and are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games. On the season, Washington is 22-27 ATS, 15-9 ATS at home, and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
Intertops have the game as a pick’em currently with the O/U total set at 218.
Indiana Pacers
(32-17 overall, 14-10 on the road, 6-4 in last 10)
The Pacers average 108.7 PPG, 43.7 RPG, 9.5 ORPG, 25.9 APG, 5 BPG, 8.9 SPG, and 14.2 TPG. As a team they shoot 47.8% from the field, 37.3% from 3 point range, and 75.4% from the free throw line. Defensively they hold teams to 103.8 PPG, 42.8 RPG, 44.7% shooting from the field, and 36.0% shooting from 3 point range.
Since Victor Oladipo’s injury they have featured a balanced scoring attack led by Bojan Bogdanovic who averages 16 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 0.8 SPG while shooting 48.7% from the field, 43.1% from 3, 82.6% from the free throw line. Domantas Sabonis puts up 14.7 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.7 ORPG and 2.2 APG while shooting 61.2/77.8/75.3. Myles Turner (12.9 PPG/7.2 RPG/2.8 BPG/39.4% from 3), Thaddeus Young (12.7 PPG/6.2 RPG/1.5 SPG), Darren Collison (9.9 PPG/5.8 APG/1.5 SPG) and Cory Joseph (7.3 PPG/3.8 APG/1.1 SPG) are heavy contributors as well.
Key Injuries
G Tyreke Evans (back) – questionable, G Victor Oladipo (knee) – out
Washington Wizards
(21-28 overall, 13-11 at home, 6-4 in last 10)
The Wizards average 112.8 PPG, 40.8 RPG, 9.1 ORPG, 25.7 APG, 4.8 BPG, 9 SPG, and 14.1 TPG. As a team they shoot 46.4% from the field, 34.4% from 3 point range, and 75.9% from the free throw line. Defensively they hold teams to 115.9 PPG, 47.9 RPG, 47.4% shooting from the field, and 36.8% shooting from 3 point range.
They are led by Bradley Beal, who has elevated his play in the wake of John Walls injury, pulling his averages up to 24.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.4 SPG and 0.8 BPG while shooting 46.6% from the field, 35.5% from 3, and 78.5% from the free throw line. Trevor Ariza is a solid #2, averaging 15.2 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.3 APG, and 1.6 SPG while shooting 37.7/31.5/81. Kelly Oubre Jr. chips in 12.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 0.9 SPG. Otto Porter Jr. (12.8 PPG/5.6 RPG/1.5 SPG), Jeff Green (11.9 PPG/4.6 RPG/1.8 APG), Thomas Bryant (9.4 PPG/5.7 RPG/0.7 BPG) and Tomas Satoransky (7.9 PPG/1.0 SPG/42% from 3) are featured as well.
Key Injuries
C Dwight Howard (back) – out, G John Wall (heel) – out, F Markieff Morris (neck) – out
Predictions
The Pacers have not necessarily been reeling from the loss of Victor Oladipo, but his presence on both ends of the floor will be sorely missed. They continue to play stout defense and share the ball offensively to take advantage of mismatches. Washington does have a decided advantage in star power with Beal, and no one on the Pacers should scare him in a 1v1 situation. Beal should be primed for a big game, and they need to pull this one out if they have any hopes of climbing their way into the playoff picture.
Indiana does have a decided advantage in the paint with Sabonis and Myles Turner, but Washington features established perimeter players in Beal, Ariza, Porter, and Jeff Green to neutralize their effectiveness on the defensive end. If this game plays out like many think it will, coming down to the wire, there is no one on Indiana’s roster who you can hand the ball to and have them go win the game. Expect it to be a back and forth game with the Wizards making more shots down the stretch.
Final Pick: Wizards
