Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers
Time: 6 PM ET, Mar 2, 2014
Spread: IND -11
Total: 189.5
Betting odds courtesy of 5dimes
The Indiana Pacers are 45-13 and own the Eastern Conference’s best record. The Pacers are 28-3 at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse where it will host the 21-37 Utah Jazz. The Pacers have won four straight coming into this game and NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes favor the Pacers by 11 points in today’s game.
Indiana has the league’s stingiest defense, allowing just 91.2 points per game. The Pacers meanwhile score 99.2, giving the team a +8.0 point differential. Last year’s Most Improved player Paul George has carried the Pacers and the team recently traded Danny Granger, who had preceded George as the Pacers All-Star forward.
The Pacers acquired Evan Turner in exchange for Granger, and Turner has averaged 12.7 points and five rebounds per game in 24 minutes per contest in his three appearances as a Pacer. Turner just needs to be a reliable third guard in the rotation, as George Hill and Lance Stephenson are entrenched as starters. Stephenson is averaging 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season and he will be a restricted free agent at year’s end.
Utah has a nice collection of young talent but is short on veteran leadership after letting Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap walk as free agents. Gordon Hayward is having a nice season and is a well-rounded player, but he’s a restricted free agent at season’s end. Hayward is averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season.
Alec Burks has developed into a good scorer and is second on the team in scoring (13.7 points per game). The Jazz are also closely watching the development of Trey Burke, Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert. Adding a top 2014 rookie will further help, but Utah is a ways away from being competitive.
UTA Trends: UNDER 7-0 in last 7 road games; UNDER 4-0 in last 4 vs a team with winning home record; UNDER 7-1-1 in last 9 when opponent scores 100 or more in previous game.
IND Trends: OVER 5-0 in last 5 following ATS loss; OVER 3-0-1 in last 4 after scoring 100 or more in previous game; OVER 3-0-1 in last 4 following SU win.
Head-to-head: OVER 8-2 in last 10 meetings in Indiana.
