NBA Betting Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers

Memphis Grizzlies at Indiana Pacers
Monday, 12/31/12, 3:00 PM EST, TV: FSIN
Opening Point Spread: Memphis -1.5
Current Betting Line: Memphis -1.5
Opening Total: 179
Current Total: 177.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Rudy Gay has averaged 27.3 points in his last three games against the Indiana Pacers

Memphis snapped a two-game losing streak in picking up an 81-72 win over the Denver Nuggets as 6.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for the first time in three contests. “It was just important to get a win,” stated Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. “We needed to get back to playing our game.” The Grizzlies are second in the NBA in allowing just 90.1 points per game. On the offensive end, the team hasn’t broken the century mark in its last 11 games, but has managed to produce a 6-5 record in that span. Memphis is 4-1 ATS versus Central division foes this year, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread on New Year’s Eve.

The Grizzlies will likely be led by forward Rudy Gay on the offensive end, considering he’s averaged 27.3 points over his last three games versus the Pacers. He currently leads the team in scoring 18.2 points per game, which ranks 17th in the NBA in that category. Memphis is 6-5 on the road this year, but has a perfect 2-0 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents.

Indiana had its four-game win streak come to an end in a 109-100 setback to the Atlanta Hawks as 2.5-point road underdogs, while going OVER the total for the first time in three contests. The Pacers are averaging just 92.0 points per game, but are limiting opponents to 90.5. “We need to get some great wins against some good teams,” commented Pacers guard George Hill. He ranks 12th in the league with an assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.78 to 1. Indiana is 4-7 ATS as a home underdog of three points or less, while the OVER is 6-5 in that situation.

The Pacers have compiled a solid 9-3 record at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season, but have dropped the last two meetings at the venue in this series. Indiana has failed to cover the spread in its last eight meetings with Memphis, which is important to note when looking over the pro basketball odds page. Since winning the first 12 games in the series with the Grizzlies, the team has gone 9-11 since.