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Indiana @ New Jersey 7:35 PM EST
New Jersey -7 over Indiana (3.5 Units)
The New Jersey Nets started defense of their Eastern Conference crown nicely with an 11-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks... now they look to follow-up on that success when they host the Indiana Pacers, who are still hurting in the backcourt, as Reggie Miller is unavailable for action and Jamaal Tinsley is nursing an injured ankle...
While the line on this game might seem a little high, we have full confidence that the Nets can post their second straight double-digit win... for when New Jersey plays at home, they are a superb 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games... and when playing at home off another home game, the Nets have covered at an 8-3 ATS rate... things get even better in the second game of a homestand, as they have covered five out of their last six contests... The Nets have been at their finest when favored at home by 3 points or more, as they have covered on an amazing 14 of 17 games.... needless to say, taking the Nets in a home game is not a bad idea at all...
It becomes a better idea when we look at Indiana's troubles on the road... not only is Indiana just 1-4-1 ATS as a road dog, but they are 2-7-1 ATS in the first of back-to-back games, and just 6-12-2 when installed as an underdog with a game the following evening... perhaps most damning is the fact that the Pacers have lost their first instance of being a road dog in SEVEN consecutive years, and have covered the spread just once during that time... while we like the Pacers as a team overall, they just are not a threat to pull an early road upset, especially with their starting backcourt sidelined with injuries...
The Nets have smoked the Pacers in their last two visits to New Jersey, winning both contests by double-digit margins... those two covers have been part of a 3-1 ATS run against the Pacers, who should find the going extremely difficult against a well-balanced Nets attack... Jason Kidd should thoroughly enjoy the opportunity of going up against a young and inconsistent Jamaal Tinsley, especially considering that he will likely not be playing at full strength... The end result of all of this looks to be a double-digit win and a cover for the Nets...
FINAL PREDICTION: NEW JERSEY 97, INDIANA 84
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