Double Trouble
The Indiana Pacers got their first look this season at the Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday night. They’re hoping Saturday’s sequel turns out much better than the original.
The Pistons will try to beat the Pacers for the second time in as many nights when they meet at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to conclude a home-and-home series.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Detroit -4.5 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 199.5 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 85% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -4.5 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
Detroit (22-7) has won seven in a row overall after a 114-101 home victory over Indiana on Friday. The Pistons led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter, giving coach Flip Saunders the luxury of resting his starters – none logged more than 33 minutes.
One of the Pistons’ reserves sparked a first-half run that put Detroit in command of the game.
Jarvis Hayes had been sick since the team’s flight back from New Jersey on Wednesday, but scored 10 points – including a pair of 3-pointers – in the first five minutes of the second quarter as the Pistons built a 23-point halftime lead.
Hayes got sick again at halftime and didn’t return, but his 13 total points were the most he had scored since putting up 17 on Dec. 4.
"He was hitting everything, so we wanted to keep getting him the ball,” Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said. "We don’t care who is knocking down shots – we’re going with the hot guy.”
The 114 points were the most for the Pistons since a 118-point effort Dec. 2 against New Jersey, and their 29 assists were one shy of a season high.
"When we get it going, we’re as good as any team out there,” said Billups, who had 14 points. "We were making the extra pass tonight, and that was getting us a lot of good looks.”
The Pistons have won their last seven games by an average margin of 14.9 points, while holding their opponents to 83.7 points per game. They will now try to win eight in a row for the first time since Nov. 17-Dec. 1, 2006.
Meanwhile, Indiana (15-15) has lost consecutive games and three of four since a three-game winning streak.
The Pacers – traditionally one of the NBA’s better defensive teams – have allowed an Eastern-Conference worst 104.5 points per game this season. They’ve given up more than 100 in 20 of their 30 games.
On offense, Indiana committed 13 turnovers in the first half Friday night.
"They’re great, but we don’t want to think this was our best effort (in Detroit)," Pacers forward Troy Murphy said. "Hopefully, we can give them our best (Saturday).”
Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley played 18 minutes in Friday’s first half despite a sore hamstring but didn’t return after halftime. Tinsley, who’s averaging 9.2 points in 19 career games against Detroit, is expected to be available for this contest.
The Pistons have won four of their last six visits to Indiana.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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