The top sportsbooks have released their NBA odds for today’s game between the Hawks and Pacers. I recommend investing in the Pacers’ double-digit spread for your NBA picks. Here’s why. For more NBA picks, check out:
NBA Pick: Pacers -14 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers
Sunday, April 14, 2024 – 01:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Great Spot for Indiana
The Pacers are in a great spot today because they are coming off a loss. They have won seven times in a row when they were playing directly after a loss.
In each of those seven games, they won by 14 or more points. While one of those seven victims was lowly Detroit, they also victimized, on the road, the:
- Thunder
- Mavericks
- Clippers
Atlanta’s Awful Rim Protection
I like Indiana because, regardless of their good spot, they match up well against Atlanta. This is partly because of the Hawks’ awful rim protection. The Hawks struggle to make shots at the rim difficult for opponents because they lack players who can contest them effectively as well as lacking defenders who can guard ball-handlers driving inside.
Consequently, they allow the third-most field goals and the fifth-highest field goal percentage within five feet of the basket. Largely due to these defensive deficiencies, the Pacers scored 150 points or more in two of their three games against Atlanta this season.
126 was their point total in the other game.
Indiana’s Offense
Indiana wants to feast at the rim with the scoring of center Myles Turner, the driving prowess of Tyrese Haliburton, and others.
The Pacers gladly attempt the most field goals within five feet of the basket. While they can also shoot well from deep, they’ll be comfortable attacking the basket today even if Atlanta again tries to resort to more of a drop coverage scheme.
Atlanta’s Offense
The Hawks also match up poorly against the Pacers because they rely heavily on attempting three-pointers. They lack players who are comfortable scoring at the basket and they are one of the NBA’s most inefficient teams.
Instead, they attempt the seventh most threes per game.
Indiana’s Defense
Indiana will make Atlanta uncomfortable on offense by forcing the Hawks to try to score against its array of shot-blockers. The Pacers care more than any other team about guarding the three-point line.
No team allows fewer three-point attempts per game than the Pacers. Similarly, Indiana allows the second-fewest open three-point attempts and the fewest wide-open ones.
These stats show that Indiana is the best team at running teams off the three-point line and at contesting three-point attempts.
NBA Pick: Pacers -14 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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