Playoff-Hopeful Pacers are in Must-Win Mode vs the Hawks
The Indiana Pacers have an opportunity to clinch their sixth playoff berth in the last seven seasons when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to town on Wednesday in the final game of the regular season for both teams. Sportsbooks of four straight, Indy is in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, a game behind Milwaukee and one up on Chicago and Miami. Sportsbooks opened the Hawks as 7-point underdogs with a total of 207.5.
Indiana secures a spot in the postseason with a win and a loss by either the Bulls or the Heat, who also play at home tonight. Atlanta nailed down the fifth seed thanks to Tuesday’s 103-76 rout of Charlotte and will face the No. 4-seeded Washington Wizards in the first round as a result.
Atlanta has clearly set its sights on the playoffs and is spreading around the minutes as a result, as no player on the Hawks saw more than 26 minutes of action vs the Hornets. Center Dwight Howard recorded his 53rd double-double Wednesday and is averaging 19 points while making 16 of 21 shots over his last two games.
Paul George has been crucial in the Pacers’ four-game surge by averaging 30.5 points on 56.8 percent shooting including 14-for-33 from downtown. George is averaging 26 points in the two meetings with Atlanta in 2016-17.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Indiana Pacers opened as -7-point favorites at online sportsbook Sportsbook, while the NBA total line was sitting around 207.5 at Sportsbook for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting on the total amount of points scored.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 113-100 win for the Pacers on Wednesday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Indiana Pacers sit at 41-40 (38-43 ATS) on the season; in comparison, the Atlanta Hawks are currently 43-38 (39-42 ATS). Looking to bet on the points scored total? Indiana is 41-40 OU and Atlanta is 32-47-2 OU. This season the Indiana Pacers are 41-40 overall and 38-43 ATS against the number, while the Atlanta Hawks are 43-38 and 39-42 ATS. As for the totals, Indiana is 41-40 on the OU, and Atlanta is 32-47-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Indiana vs Atlanta injuries news.
It's a betting matchup between the No. 17-rated Indiana Pacers and the No. 24-ranked Atlanta Hawks, according to the NBA Power Rankings here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Atlanta Hawks rank No. 7 in the league with 44.49 per game. That compares with Indiana's No. 26 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Indiana is the NBA's No. 23-ranked team at 8.64 per game, while the Atlanta Hawks rate No. 20 with 8.86 per contest.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Charlotte was run off the court by the Hawks on Tuesday as Atlanta blasted the Hornets 103-76 at Philips Arena.
Indiana got 27 points from Paul George en route to a 120-111 victory over Philadelphia on Monday at Wells Fargo Center.
Next Betting Matchups
Atlanta home to , Wednesday, December 31st
Indiana home to , Wednesday, December 31st