NBA fans will get to enjoy an intriguing cross-conference battle on Monday night when the Indiana Pacers travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans. Both teams have gotten their respective seasons off to strong starts and will be looking to add a statement win to their resumes. The NBA betting odds narrowly favor the home team in what promises to be an exciting game.
Check out our top fantasy basketball waiver wire adds for Week 3!
Pacers vs Pelicans Game Info
Indiana Pacers (4-2, 1-0 Away) at New Orleans Pelicans (4-2, 2-0 Home)
Date: Monday, Jan. 4, 2021
Venue: Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
Start Time: 8 p.m. EST
TV: NBA League Pass, FS New Orleans, FS Indiana
Pacers vs Pelicans NBA Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook
Moneyline: IND: (+105) | NO: (-125)
Spread: IND: +1.5 (-110) | NO: -1.5 (-110)
Total: 217 – Over (-110) | Under (-110)
Pacers vs Pelicans NBA Betting Overview
Pacers Outlook
The Pacers come into tonight’s game on the heels of a disappointing home loss to the New York Knicks. They’ll look to get back on track in NOLA as short NBA betting underdogs. Nate Bjokgren’s team is one of the most well-rounded scoring teams in the NBA, with contributions coming from all over the floor. Malcolm Brogdon has taken over the lead role in the backcourt offensively, averaging 22.2 points and 6.3 assists per game. Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo join him in averaging over 20 points per contest, with the latter looking perhaps exceeding expectations after a rough initial return from his quad injury.
Indiana remains one of the stingiest defensive teams in the NBA as well. Myles Turner is a big part of that, leading the league with 3.7 blocks per game.
Pacers Injury Report
- Out: T.J. Warren
- Out: Jeremy Lamb
- Out: Brian Bowen II
- Out: Goga Bitadze
Pelicans Outlook
The Pelicans have taken on a bit of a different persona to start this season, as the Zion Williamson Era has officially taken center stage. After being near the bottom of the league in scoring defense last season, New Orleans ranks top-three through two weeks of play. If this is indeed Williamson’s team, you have to consider Brandon Ingram the copilot with honors. Ingram has taken his game to another level since being jettisoned from the Lakers and enters Monday’s game averaging 24.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Both he and Williamson are budding superstars capable of changing an NBA betting outcome in an instant.
The backcourt of Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe is coming together nicely, and Steven Adams remains his usual double-double threat at the center position. JJ Redick, Josh Hart, and Jaxson Hayes are a fine trio coming off the bench as well.
Pelicans Injury Report
- Out: Sindarius Thornwell (health & safety protocol)
- Out: Wenyen Gabriel (knee)
- Day-to-Day: Nicolo Melli
Pacers vs Pelicans NBA Betting Trends
- Pacers 2020-21 Betting Trends: 4-2 ATS; 3-3 to the Over
- Pelicans 2020-21 Betting Trends: 3-3 ATS; 1-5 to the Over
Pacers vs Pelicans Statistics
- Indiana is averaging 114.3 points per game this season (No. 9 in the NBA)
- Indiana is surrendering 106.8 points per game on the season (No. 9 in the NBA)
- New Orleans is averaging 104.7 points per game this season (No. 26 in the NBA)
- New Orleans is surrendering 102.0 points per game this season (No. 3 in the NBA)
Pacers vs Pelicans Prop Bet
Steven Adams Total Points + Rebounds + Assists: Over 22.5 (-111 at Bovada Sportsbook)
While Jaxson Hayes garnered a lot of hype last season, and deservedly so, Steven Adams has come in and assumed the vast majority of minutes at the center position this season. If he sees his typical 30 minutes in tonight’s game, I like the 27-year-old veteran to do some damage against the Pacers on the stat sheet. Let’s break down how we can take advantage of this from an NBA betting angle.
On the season, Indiana has allowed over 20 points and 16 rebounds per game to opposing centers. While these numbers are in the middle of the pack relative to the rest of the NBA, the 4.2 assists per game that opposing centers have averaged against Indiana stands out. With Adams being a nightly 10-point, 10-rebound threat, there would appear to be a real path for him to eclipse the over/under of 22.5 on the three stats combined. If the stout Pacers defense is able to limit the damage Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson do as the Pelican’s primary scorers, Adams could find himself even busier than usual.
