Sunday's Best NBA Bet
Indiana Pacers at Denver Nuggets (-8.5, 215.5)
It seems like a lifetime ago when the Pacers were the NBA’s top road team, posting a surprising win at Miami and looking poised to be a playoff dark horse. Indiana started the year 5-1 away from the Hoosier state, but since has gone 1-12 on the road. Overall, the team is 3-8-1 ATS in its past 12 road games.
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs,” Pacers forward Jeff Foster said. “We still have an opportunity to do that. If we start winning games and playing together, that’s a distinct possibility.”
Denver is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its past 10 games against the Pacers, even including a 144-113 blowout loss in Indiana in November. And while Denver isn’t playing like a championship contender, the team is 4-2 SU and ATS in its past six overall.
The Nuggets also have the third-most road wins in the league, posting a 19-5 record as the team averages more than 110 points per game on its own hardwood, nearly three more per game than any other team in the league.
Pick: Denver
Denver Nuggets finish homestand against Pacers
By: Joe Freda
The Denver Nuggets have a 4-2 spread record in their last six games, with the ‘total’ splitting at 3-3. George Karl’s crew completes a three-game homestand with Sunday night’s duel against the Indiana Pacers, who are 5-3 ATS in their first eight contests of January.
Denver saw a four-game home winning streak end with Friday’s 107-97 loss as a one-point dog against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets allowed Los Angeles to connect on 53.4 percent of its field buckets, while being outrebounded, 47-27.
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony notched team-highs of 23 points and five assists. Denver’s leading scorer (23.5 PPG) added six boards and two of his squad’s seven steals.
Anthony’s mate Nene grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while finishing with nine points. The nine-year center failed to score in double-digits for the first time in 15 games.
The battle’s combined 204 points ducked below the ‘total’ of 209, bringing the ‘under’ to 3-0 in the Nuggets’ last three games. Both squads united to drain 11-of-37 from three-point land.
Denver dropped to 10-12-2 ATS in its first 24 home dates, with the ‘over’ dipping to 13-10-1. Anthony and Co. have put up a scorching 110.4 PPG in that span.
Indiana picked up its third straight loss in Wednesday’s 110-108 defeat as a five-point road dog against the Golden State Warriors. The Pacers led by as many as 11 points, while being outscored in the paint, 54-34.
Pacers forward Danny Granger finished with team-highs of 32 points and six assists. The 27-year-old hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while adding 13 boards for his first double-double in seven games.
Indiana’s Jeff Foster notched a season-high 15 rebounds off the bench, playing nearly 30 minutes. The veteran big man struggled from the field, hitting a sparse 1-of-8 shots.
Foster helped fill some depth in place of Pacers leading rebounder Roy Hibbert (8 RPG) missing the game due to a respiratory illness. Hibbert is listed as “questionable” to return this weekend, according to the injury report at DonBest.com.
The contest’s combined 218 points leaped above the ‘total’ of 214. Indiana went 25-for-29 at the foul line, while allowing Golden State to connect at 51.1 percent from the field.
The Pacers improved to 8-10-1 in their first 19 road games, with the ‘under’ moving to 11-8. Granger and Co. have allowed 100.7 PPG in that stretch.
Indiana is 4-2 ATS in its last six meetings against the Nuggets, with the ‘over’ also going 4-2.
The Pacers won November’s matchup between the foes, 144-113, as one-point home dogs. Indiana shot 64.4 percent from the field, including 16-for-30 beyond the arc. Denver was playing the second night of a back-to-back spot and a fourth game in five days.
Indiana returns the scheduling favor in Sunday’s rematch, visiting the Nuggets after a duel with the Portland Trail Blazers as part of Saturday’s league slate. The Pacers are 4-5 ATS in their nine games played on no rest, with the ‘under’ cashing at 8-1.
Sunday’s tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PT).
Denver will have one day off before starting a five-game road trip with Tuesday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards. Indiana will be idle for two days, returning home for Wednesday’s meeting with the Orlando Magic.