Banged-Up Pacers Look to Continue Home Success Vs Philly

Indiana has defeated the Sixers in nine of the last 11 meetings in Indianapolis, including an 18-point victory a couple of weeks ago. However, the Pacers could be without two starters Monday when they face Philadelphia, which is 1-1 since Joel Embiid underwent finger surgery.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Pacers were 3.5-point home chalk when they beat Philadelphia 115-97 on New Year’s Eve, when Embiid was also out of the lineup. The Sixers haven’t been favored in Indiana since 2012.

Philadelphia News & Notes

The Sixers have split their two games without Embiid, defeating the Celtics 109-98 at home on Thursday before falling 109-91 on Saturday at Dallas. Al Horford has averaged 16.5 points, seven rebounds and 5.5 assists as Embiid’s replacement at starting center, but the veteran hit just six of his 16 field-goal attempts Saturday.

Horford had plenty of company when it came to a poor shooting night as the Sixers shot 38 percent from the field on the evening — and 24 percent from three-point territory. That offset some good work in other statistical categories by Philly, which pulled down 14 offensive rebounds, made 11 steals and outscored Dallas 17-4 off turnovers.

Subpar performances on the road have been a consistent issue this year for Philadelphia. The loss in Dallas was the Sixers’ fifth straight on the highway, dropping them to 7-13 SU and 6-12-2 ATS as visitors this season. That doesn’t bode well for them in Indiana, where Philly is just 2-9 SU in its last 11 visits and 3-6 ATS in its last nine.

Indiana News & Notes

The Pacers overcame the absence of two starters to win Friday in Chicago, and they might have to do the same thing in order to beat Philadelphia. Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon are both listed as questionable for Monday’s contest as Sabonis nurses a knee injury and Brogdon deals with strep throat.

JaKarr Sampson got the start in place of Sabonis on Friday and shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in just his 13th appearance of the season, while Myles Turner stepped up at center to provide season highs in points (27) and rebounds (14). Justin Holiday had replaced Brogdon in the starting rotation in eight of Indiana’s previous nine games (prior to the strep throat, Brogdon was dealing with a back injury), but Indiana coach Nate McMillan opted to give T.J. McConnell the start instead. That move paid off as McConnell helped the Pacers open an early 23-15 lead and Holiday came off the bench to hit eight of nine shots.

After winning 15 of 17 games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse following a loss in their home opener, the Pacers have allowed an average of 123 points in consecutive losses at home to Miami and Denver. Indiana has beaten up on visitors with losing records recently, however, going 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 in that situation.

Betting Pick: Pacers +1.5

Even if Sabonis and Brogdon don’t suit up, I like Indiana to handle a Philly team that isn’t playing with any confidence lately on the road.