The Pacers have been the most squirrelly team in the East this year. After a slow start, they picked it up in December, and now they’re sixth in the East with a 22-19 record. The team's production has been much more random this year, with Haliburton having his ups and downs. Some nights, it’s Siakam, others Nembhard, and then Haliburton will put up a massive game.
The Pacers' season has been plagued by inconsistency with Haliburton. Some nights, you’ll get 30 points and 12 assists on great shooting; others, he’ll score 4 points in 35 minutes. These ups and downs have made these games so hard to call.
The Pacers are on the road today in Detroit, so this should be a solid matchup. The Pistons are just below the Pacers in the standings and have a similar roster construction.
In terms of matchups, this should be a very close game if Haliburton and Nesmith play. Cade and Haliburton match up well against each other, with Cade having the advantage on defense. Especially with Mathurin suspended this game, this game could come down to a couple of things: three-point shooting and rebounding.
The Pacers have not been as in love with the three as they have in the past. They’re in the bottom three for threes attempted per game in the league. They have been getting their work done predominantly at the rim. They'll probably take this game if they can continue to do that even with Mathurin out. However, with Mathurin sidelined, I think the three-point shot will take more priority tonight. If Haliburton plays and is feeling his shot, they’ll be in a great spot, if not, they may struggle to score tonight.
Other than the three-pointers, the Pacers will have to do better in the rebounding battle. They’re among the bottom of the league in rebounds per game, which could hurt them against Detroit, who is twelfth. If Turner and Siakam can dominate the defensive glass and prevent second-chance points, they’ll likely stagger this Detroit offense.
Overall, this game will likely be a toss-up, but I’m leaning towards the Pistons because of the Mathurin suspension. Other than that, these teams are incredibly close in skill, and it should be an excellent game.
The Pistons are finally out of the doldrums of the perpetual tank. With Cade Cunningham breaking out this year, watching this team emerge in the East has been a fun ride. They are currently sitting right behind the Pacers in the rankings at 7th. The Pistons have been on a nice little hot streak coming into tonight's game with a winning record of 21-19. They’ve won eight out of their last ten games, with Cade doing the bulk of the work.
That’s not to say the rest of the team has been slacking. The veterans Detroit acquired over the off-season have been solid this year. Hardaway Jr. and Harris have brought the team an edge of stability, while Jaden Ivey was providing some excellent scoring before his injury against the Magic.
This team matches up well against the Pacers. They have similar size across their roster, and with Duren down low, they’ll have solid shot block to throw at Pascal and Turner. The biggest deciding factor in this game for Detroit will be Cade. He’ll have to have a solid game against Haliburton if he’s playing. His defense will count more than his offense, considering Haliburton has returned to form over the last couple of weeks.
As a team, though, they’ll have to make their threes. That’s been one of the biggest improvements of the roster this year. They’re nearly in the top 10 of the league in three-point percentage and attempts. It’s elevated this offense tremendously, and if they’re hitting, it can be hard to slow them down.
Regardless, the Pistons have the advantage tonight. With the Pacers already short-handed, the Pistons might get handed a win if Haliburton and Nesmith aren’t available. If you’re looking for some solid betting options, Cade’s over on points should be a good one. This Pacer’s backcourt will struggle to slow him down regardless of who’s playing. That’s why I think the Pistons have this one at home.
Pacers Injuries:
Tyrese Haliburton Questionable
Aaron Nesmith Questionable
Pistons Injuries:
Jaden Ivey Out
Spread: +2 IND (-108) / -2 DET (-112)
Total Points: 229.5
Moneyline: IND (+114) / DET (-135)
Cade Cunningham Over 25.5 Points (-120)
Pascal Siakam Over 32.5 Combined Points + Rebounds + Assists (-110)
Jalen Duren 11+ Rebounds (+120)
Myles Turner Under 1.5 Blocks (+124)