NBA Predictions: Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets

Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets
Friday, 3/7/14, 9:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Houston -4.5
Current Betting Line: Houston -4.5
Opening Total: 202
Current Total: 202
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Indiana Pacers are led offensively by forward Paul George

Indiana has dropped back-to-back games, including a 109-87 defeat to the Charlotte Bobcats as 4.5-point road favorites Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 190. The Pacers have all five probable starters averaging double figures, with forward Paul George leading the way at 22.3 points per contest, which is important to consider when making your NBA predictions. The team is 17-11 SU on the road, including a 7-5 mark when taking on Western Conference opponents. Indiana is 8-2 SU and 5-4-1 ATS off a upset loss as a favorite.

The Pacers picked up the largest margin of victory in the history of this series in the last meeting, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. Indiana has recorded 16 come-from-behind wins after trailing at halftime during the 2013-14 campaign, while it has ended up with a victory after leading after three quarters in 40 of 43 opportunities. Defensively, the franchise is allowing just 35.1 points per game in the paint—a number that leads the league.

Houston has won five of its last six games, including a 101-89 victory over the Orlando Magic as eight-point road favorites Wednesday, while going UNDER the betting total of 204.5. The Rockets are led offensively by the play of guard James Harden, who entered the last game averaging 24.4 points per game. The squad is 24-7 SU at home, including a 13-0 mark when taking on Eastern Conference opponents. Houston is 14-11 SU and 11-13 ATS when revenging a loss this season.

The Rockets are an NBA-best 21-6 since the calendar rolled into 2014—having not lost a game when reaching the century mark offensively. Houston came into its last affair ranked third in the NBA in averaging 106.4 points per game, which is up slightly from its 106.0 mark of a season ago.