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Two struggling teams meet in Hoosier State on Tuesday night as the stumbling Los Angeles Lakers take on the reeling Indiana Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Trade Rumors
After being plagued with injuries, the Los Angeles Lakers have disappeared from the playoff picture. But at just 1.5 games behind the 8th placed Clippers, they aren’t out of the equation yet. However, while the purple and gold have the tools to make a playoff run, the the players are without doubt distracted by trade rumors linking them to Anthony Davis.
The Lakers are ranked 14th in scoring at 114.1 points per game. They are also 13th in passing at 24.6 assists per game and 4th in rebounding at 47.5 boards per contest. Los Angeles gives up the 9th most points in the league at 112.1 points per game allowed this season.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers 2/5/19
Moneyline Odds: Lakers -155, Pacers +135
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/5/19
Losing Oladipo
The Indiana Pacers were the third-best team in the East after Victor Oladipo returned from his first injury. But after ‘Dipo suffered a serious knee injury recently, the Pacers have struggled with his loss. With Oladipo out for the rest of the season, the Pacers have been written off after losing their first four games without him. Indiana though has broken out of that slump with a win over the Miami Heat in their most recent outing but their struggles have just begun.
The Pacers are 22nd in the league in scoring at just 107.9 points per game. Indiana is ranked 7th in assists with 25.9 dimes per contest. They are also 24th off the glass, hauling down 43.5 rebounds per outing. Indiana is allowing their opponents to score 103.6 points per game which is the 2nd best scoring defense in the NBA this season.
Who Wins?
The Lakers are 2-5 SU in their last seven games played. Los Angeles is 2-2 SU in their last four road games. The Pacers are 1-4 SU in their last five games played. Indiana is 4-2 SU in their last six home games played. Head to head, the Pacers are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings against the Lakers. Indiana is 5-0 SU in their last five home games against Los Angeles.
The Pacers’ season has been written off as over because Victor Oladipo is gone for the season. The Pacers lost their first four games without their leader and top scorer but have gotten out of the losing streak with a win over Miami in their last outing. Still, it wasn’t a pretty win and Indiana doesn’t look in good shape.
This is a game you’d rather not pick because there are more uncertain issues than not. If LeBron does play, this should be easy work for the Lakers but if he doesn’t this one should be a dog fight right to the end. For as long as Luke Walton can convince his boys to go to war, Los Angeles has the deeper team and should win this one outright.
I’m picking the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Indiana Pacers on 2/5/19
Other Bets To Make
The Lakers are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in their last six road games. The Pacers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games played. Indiana is 3-3 ATS in their last six home games. Head to head, the Lakers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against the Pacers.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers 2/5/19
Spread Odds: Lakers -3.5 (-105), Pacers +3.5 (-115)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/5/19
The Lakers may have lost their luster but they are still covering games on the road at that. Los Angeles is 4-0 ATS in their last four road games overall, 4-0 ATS in their last four road games against teams with a home winning percentage higher than .600 and 4-0 ATS in their last four games against teams with winning records. Meanwhile, the Pacers have really struggled with Oladipo gone. Indiana is 1-5 ATS in their last six games against teams with winning straight up records and 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall. Both these teams have been hurt by injuries but the Pacers have struggled more than the Lakers.
Prediction: Lakers -3.5
The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played by the Lakers. The under is 7-2 in the last nine games played by the Pacers. These teams have played to the under in five out of their last six meetings.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers 2/5/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 217 -110, Under 217 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 2/5/19
The under is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last four when playing on two days rest. The under is also 6-0 in their last six Tuesday games and 5-0 against the Central Division. The under is 13-3 when the Pacers play on zero days rest and 8-2 in their last 10 Tuesday games. The under has also hit in three out of the last four meetings between the Lakers and Pacers. Indiana is playing the second of a back to back schedule here and are without their top scorer. Los Angeles may be without LeBron James again and their other guys are pretty banged up right now. I like the total to stay under.
Prediction: Under 217
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