By Stephen Nover
Pacers minus 6 1/2 hosting Mavericks
The Pacers are the top defensive team in the NBA giving up 103.4 points a game. They should be pumped for this home game against Dallas after being embarrassed at Bankers Life Fieldhouse by the 76ers, 120-96, this past Thursday.
Indiana is 36-17 (68%) ATS following a loss. The Pacers are 9-2 (82%) following a loss of more than 10 points.
The Pacers are very solid at home despite the loss to the 76ers winning 15 of 21 games. They have a winning ATS mark at home.
Dallas is very bad on the road – 4-18 SU, 11-11 ATS. The Mavericks are 20-24 on the season because of their poor road record. The Pacers have played three below .500 teams during their past five games – Cavaliers, Knicks and Suns. They beat those teams by eight, 15 and 34 points, respectively.
The Mavericks are short-handed in the backcourt with J.J. Barea out for the season and Dennis Smith Jr. having missed the last four games due to back tightness and illness. In addition, Dallas could be minus its third-leading scorer with Wesley Matthews questionable because of a wrist injury.
The Mavericks have surrendered at least 114 points in 10 of their last 12 road games. If that road pattern continues the Mavericks don’t have nearly the firepower to hang on the road with the defensive-minded Pacers.
(Editor’s note: Stephen Nover is one of the hottest handicappers in North America. Stephen is 22-11 on his last 33 premium/free NBA plays, 25-4-2 on his last 31 premium/free NFL plays, 26-11 on his college basketball plays, including 12-1 on his past 13 and 45-24-2 on his last 71 NHL premium/free plays, including winning his last four underdog plays. If you are interested in Stephen’s sports service please contact him at scriber26@gmail.com, or message him via Twitter.)
