The Philadelphia 76ers sit in first place in the Eastern Conference but are coming off an ugly home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Sixers will try to get back on track when they host the slumping Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers have dropped three games in a row – straight up and ATS – and have fallen out of a playoff spot. If the Pacers want to stop their skid, they’ll have to do so as 4.5-point NBA betting underdogs. Can they cover the spread—or even pull off the upset?
Find out in our free NBA picks and predictions for Pacers vs. 76ers on Monday, March 1, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers betting preview
Injuries
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon PG (Questionable), Jeremy Lamb SG (Questionable), Caris LeVert SG (Out), TJ Warren SF (Out).
76ers: Joel Embiid C (Questionable), Tobias Harris F (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Pacers are 0-6 ATS in their last six games as underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. 76ers.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonTwenty minutes or so before tipoff, the 76ers indicated Joel Embiid will play tonight, after he was listed as questionable all day. That led to a significant line adjustment at FanDuel, from Philadelphia -2.5 to -4.5, then the Sixers ticked down to -4. This game opened late Sunday night at 76ers -5. Philly is attracting 83 percent of spread bets and 73 percent of spread money. The total also jumped late off the Embiid news, from 222.5 up to the opener of 224, although the Under is getting 55 percent of bets and 76 percent of cash.
Check out the full line movement for this game
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The first-place 76ers wasted a 42-point, 13-rebound performance from MVP candidate Joel Embiid in a 112-109 overtime loss to the Cavaliers, who sit second-to-last in the conference. The Sixers were missing Tobias Harris for that game (questionable tonight with a knee injury), but their biggest problem in that game was that they got little production outside of Embiid and were ice-cold from deep.
The Sixers shot just 36 percent from 3-point range in Saturday’s matchup, but they should be able to find some more space on the perimeter against a Pacers’ defense that ranks 23rd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
The Pacers’ offense, on the other hand, has been the main problem during their skid. Indiana has shot just 39.7 percent from the floor over its last three games and could be without guard Malcolm Brogdon (also questionable with a knee injury) once again. And scoring won’t get any easier against a Philly team that ranks sixth in defensive rating.
The Sixers should also have a big edge on the glass, ranking fourth in the Association in rebounding percentage, compared to 24th for the Pacers. Giving Embiid and the Sixers shooters second-chance opportunities will hurt the Pacers in this one, so we’re laying the points with the favorites.
PREDICTION: 76ers -4.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
As mentioned, the Pacers are struggling to score, and without reinforcements, it's hard to see that changing against a Philly team that is going to be pissed off over its last performance. Indiana has averaged 110.4 points per game in regulation over the last five games, with the only offensive outburst coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, the Sixers have also seen a little blip on offense recently, averaging just 103.8 points per contest over their last four games and the Pacers are a solid defensive bunch, ranking 12th in the NBA in defensive rating. This one should sneak Under the number.
PREDICTION: Under 223.5 (-110)
Team Prop Pick
The Pacers' offensive struggles haven’t just been over the last five games—putting up points was a problem for most of the month of February. Over their last 10 games, the Pacers are just 3-7, scoring 111 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting. Those numbers rank 19th and 26th in the NBA over that stretch.
Their team total for this matchup sits at 109.5, and against a team like the Sixers, we like them to stay Under that number once again.
PREDICTION: Pacers Team Total Under 109.5 (-110)
Pacers vs 76ers betting card
- 76ers -4.5 (-110)
- Under 223.5 (-110)
- Pacers Team Total Under 109.5 (-110)
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