Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers
Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Indiana
Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 8:05 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Indiana -4 1/2 (-115)
Current Line: Indiana -7 1/2
Opening Total: 192 1/2
Current Total: 192
Opening Money Line: Pacers -460 / Wizards +365
Current Money Line: Pacers -340 / Wizards +280
Exactly one month ago, the Indiana Pacers started a stretch where they went 2-9. It seemed to knock them out of playoff contention. However, the Pacers have since won 5 straight games to improve to 37-43. The Pacers lead the Brooklyn Nets by a half game for the last playoff spot in the East. Indiana will clinch #8 seed with wins in their final two games regardless of what Brooklyn does as the Nets lost last night in Chicago. Brooklyn does ho;d the head to head tiebreaker though. Whichever team gets the #8 seed will face the #1 seed Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Indiana hosts the 46-24 Washington Wizards Tuesday. The Wizards are pretty much locked into the #5 seed in the playoffs and will play either the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.
Washington leads the series 2-1 against Indiana this season. The Wizards won 96-94 in overtime in Washington November 5 and in Indianapolis 97-90 three days later. Indiana won in Washington 103-101 March 25. These two teams met in the conference semifinals last year and the Pacers won in six hard fought games.
Washington is coached by Randy Wittman. The Wizards have won 5 of the last 6 games, including a 108-99 home win over the Hawks Sunday night. Washington is 31-46-3 ATS and the total is 36-42-2 this season. The Wizards were 9 point favorites against the Hawks and the total was 194.
Indiana is coached by Frank Vogel. The Pacers have won 5 straight games including a 116-104 win Sunday night at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite 54 points from Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. Indiana is 42-35-3 ATS and the total is 44-35-1 this season. The Pacers were 3 point favorites against the Thunder and the total was 210.5.
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Washington is outscoring teams 99-97 this season. The Wizards are #8 in points allowed in the NBA. Washington is shooting 46.5% from the field and 36% from 3 point range. The Wizards are in the top ten in both categories. Washington makes 74.2% from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 43.3% from the field and 34.4% from 3 point range. Washington is #2 in field goal defense. The Wizards average 44.3 rebounds per game and opponents average 41.5 per game. Washington is in the top 10 in both categories. The Wizards average 24.1 assists, 14.3 turnovers, 7.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game.
John Wall averages 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 10 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Bradley Beal averages 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Paul Pierce averages 12.2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He returned against Philadelphia last week after missing the previous 3 games with an illness. Marcin Gortat averages 12 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. Nene averages 11 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Garrett Temple is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.
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Indiana is outscoring teams 97.3-97 this season. The Pacers are #5 in points allowed but #24 in scoring. Indiana is shooting 44% from the field and 35.1% from 3 point range. The Pacers are #23 in field goal shooting. Indiana makes 76% of their free throws. Opponents are shooting 43.6% from the field and 34.6% from 3 point range. The Pacers are #3 in field goal defense. Indiana averages 44.7 rebounds per game and opponents average 42.5 per game. The Pacers are in the top 10 in both categories. Indiana averages 21.5 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 6.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game.
George Hill averages 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1 steal a game. C.J. Miles averages 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Rodney Stuckey averages 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. David West averages 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Paul George returned last week from a horrific broken leg suffered in the off-season. In 4 games back he has averaged 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He is only playing around 15 minutes a game but it is incredible he was able to return this season. Roy Hibbert averages 10.6 points, 7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. C.J. Watson averages 10 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He is out Sunday with an elbow injury. Chris Copeland is out indefinitely with an abdominal injury.
Washington is 3-1-2 ATS overall, 3-8 against teams with winning home records, 5-15 in road games, 1-3-1 after scoring 100 points or more, 3-10-1 against Eastern Conference teams, 1-5 in Tuesday games, 0-6 against Central Division teams, and 0-6-2 on one day rest. The road team has covered the last 9 games in this series. The underdog is 9-1 ATS in the series recently. Washington has covered the last 4 times at Indiana.
Indiana is 4-0 ATS at home, and against Southeast Division teams, 4-1 against teams with winning records, and overall, 7-3 against teams with losing road records, 2-6 after a cover, and 2-8 in Tuesday games. The under is 7-2 in Indianapolis in this series recently. The Pacers are 5-2 ATS against the Wizards overall recently.
Washington could rest their starters as they really can’t move up. Indiana on the other hand has to win this game. This should be a low scoring game as both teams give up around 97 points a game. I like the pacers to win but the Wizards keep it close.
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