Magic vs. Pacers: 3 Best Bets
The Orlando Magic travel to take on the Indiana Pacers tonight and both teams are looking to regain their footing. Orlando has lost four straight games, and the Pacers have lost five of six after going on a tear earlier this month.
Orlando has lived and died by their aversion to three-point shooting, whereas the Pacers reliably score 127 points per night, easily the best in the NBA. These Eastern Conference rivals are opposites in many regards. Indiana refuses to play any meaningful defense, and Orlando remains one of the stronger defensive teams in the league. The Magic will be hoping this game doesn’t become a shootout, and Indiana will be looking to establish offensive dominance.
Orlando's Cole Anthony (50) drives against Boston's Derrick White (9).
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando will be without Markelle Fultz and Kevon Harris, while Jalen Suggs and Joe Ingles are questionable. Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Smith are questionable for Indiana. Before tipoff, take a look at our three best bets, courtesy of SI Sportsbook.
The Lines
Point spread: Pacers -1.5 (-118)/Magic +1.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Pacers (-137)/Magic (+110)
Over/under: 242.5
Our Picks
Safe pick: Paolo Banchero OVER 23.5 points (-133)
If Paolo Banchero can score 23 points against Giannis Antetokounmpo, he can definitely surpass that against the Pacers, who have one of the worst defenses in the league. Indiana allows the most points in the paint out of anyone in the league, so Banchero should be able to go to work down low and in the midrange. In recent games where he failed to hit this mark, he had to go up against Boston and Miami, both of whom have good defenses. Playing the Pacers should be a welcome change for his offensive game,
Opponent pick: Tyrese Haliburton OVER 40.5 combined points, assists, rebounds (-120)
Haliburton leads the league with a dozen assists per game, and adds an efficient 24.3 points. He only nabs four rebounds per game, but that gets him to an average of 40.3 combined points, assists, and rebounds. If Jalen Suggs doesn’t play, Orlando will be shorthanded on the perimeter. Even if Suggs does play, Haliburton is a modern-day Steve Nash and can craft a well-rounded offensive game against anyone.
Team pick: OVER 242.5 points (-118)
Orlando’s defense is good, but it hasn’t been up to par recently, and a high-powered Pacers team will catch fire eventually. Orlando will have to go shot-for-shot with the best offensive team in the league, and that means high scoring. It will be a race to 120 points, and both teams should surpass it during the course of this game, making the over an attractive bet.
