The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the NBA playoffs as the favorites in the Eastern Conference despite an uneven regular season, but the inconsistency has continued in the postseason. The Cavs split the first two games of their first round series against the Pacers and look to be in for a hard fight the rest of the way.
It took a superhuman effort from LeBron James in Game 2 to help Cleveland to the victory. If he is simply a star in some games instead of showing that type of dominance, the Pacers should feel good about their chances. These teams will face off in a critical Game 4 this weekend.
Indiana will have the home court advantage in the contest and the spread figures to be very small one way or the other.
Game 4 of this NBA Playoff Series is on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The contest will be nationally televised on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Odds Analysis
There is no spread out yet for Game 4, but the Cavaliers entered the third game of the series as one-point favorites. Since the next game will be the same teams in the same location, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the spread come in at a similar number.
The scoring total figures to be set around 208 points. The Cavaliers had a rough time covering spreads in the regular season as they underperformed for much of the year.
Player To Watch
LeBron James -- Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue didn’t think James was aggressive enough in Game 1, and his star must have taken that as challenge. James ripped off the first 16 points for Cleveland in Game 2 and finished with 46 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
He shot 17-of-24 from the field in that contest in one of the most impressive individual efforts of the playoffs. The Cavaliers clearly have some issues still as the offense doesn’t always hum.
However, the presence of James always gives this team a chance. He will aim to put up huge numbers once again in Game 4.
Key Stat
90. That’s the number of points the Pacers allowed on average to the Cavaliers in the first two games of the series. Even though the teams split, it is a good sign moving forward. James is going to get his points but Indiana seems to have found a nice rhythm on the defensive end of the floor.
The Cavaliers have a lot of players that can be streaky, and after a huge overhaul at the trading deadline, it is obvious the squad does not have great chemistry. If the Pacers can keep up the defensive intensity it should have a great shot at picking up the victory in Game 4.
Indiana’s prowess on this end of the court is also something to keep in mind when it comes to the scoring total in NBA basketball over/under betting.
Free NBA ATS Picks
James is the biggest name in the NBA and its best player, but the Pacers have a solid plan of attack and better balance. Add in the home court advantage and the pick here is for Indiana to win Game 4 in front of its fans.
The Cavs have failed to live up to expectations all season and this will be another loss. Check to see where the spread is listed for this one. Indiana on the moneyline could be the best bet because it should pay off in NBA basketball betting. The “under” is definitely the right side of the scoring total as the Pacers should play some solid defense once again.
NBA ATS Pick: Pacers 99, Cavaliers 96
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
