The Indiana Pacers are in the middle of the playoff hunt and above .500 on the season, but have had a big problem picking up wins on the road this season. They will aim to reverse that trend in a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Pacers are several games better in the standings than a Hornets team which looks bound for the lottery, but the home court advantage looks like a big deal in this one. The Pacers could very well be underdogs since they have been so much better in their own arena than away from it.
The Hornets are still within striking distance of the No. 8 seed in the East and are hoping for a strong finish to reach the postseason. This is a crucial matchup for both sides and it figures to be a competitive affair.
At 8 p.m. ET, tune into TNT for live television coverage of this NBA basketball game on Monday, March 6, 2017 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Monday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Hornets are 26-34 straight up and 25-32-3 against the spread. They have played in 29 home games this season, and while they are above .500 straight up, they have only managed to cover in 12 of them. Charlotte is 18-21-1 against the spread as the favorite this season and 7-10-2 against the spread as the underdog.
The Pacers are 31-30 straight up and 28-33 against the spread. They have gone just 10-20 straight up on the road and almost as bad trying to cover with a record of 12-18 against the spread. Indiana has covered 13 times in 29 attempts as the favorite and is 15-17 against the spread as the underdog.
Player to Watch
Paul George -- The Pacers’ star was on the trading block and nearly dealt, but he remains with the team and it its most integral piece. He is averaging 21.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals on the season, and the Hornets must do a good job of slowing him down.
George had 22 points and six rebounds in a recent one-point loss to the Spurs, but shot only 5-of-18 from the field, which was much less efficient than his usual 43.7 percent shooting. It stands to reason the Pacers could have upset San Antonio if George played a little bit better, and he will look to atone for that off night against the Hornets.
George has been in a bit of a rut lately but has the talent to break out at any time.
Key Stat
0.4. That’s the positive point-differential of the Hornets this season, the only team currently outside of the playoff picture in the NBA which has scored more points than its opponent. In that respect, Charlotte has been unlucky in that it has lost some close games that maybe it should have one.
Point-differential is generally more predictive than win-loss records in the long run, so it may bode well for the Hornets down the stretch as they look to get hot. The Pacers, meanwhile, have five more wins but have a negative point-differential.
This isn’t to say that Charlotte has been better than Indiana this season, but the disparity is not as big as the standings suggest.
Free NBA ATS Pick
These teams are pretty comparable in talent level, and the home court advantage is a big deal, as Indiana would certainly be favored if it was the one in the favorable venue.
The spread should be small one way or the other, but if the oddsmakers like the Pacers because of their superior record, jump all over the Hornets in this one. Even if Charlotte is a slight favorite, it is the correct play.
The deep dive on the stats shows that the Hornets have been somewhat unlucky this season and are due for a rebound. Add in Indiana’s struggles on the road, and it’s clear that the Hornets should be the pick to capture this victory.
NBA Odds: Hornets 104, Pacers 99
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