Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/31/2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Hawks travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to play the Indiana Pacers on Monday, December 31, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Indiana as 11.5 point favorites.

The Hawks have a record of 11-24. They are 5th in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -8.5 as they average 109.5 points per game while giving up 118.0 per contest. The Pacers have an overall record of 24-12 this season. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They average 107.3 points per game and surrender 100.9, good for a point differential of 6.4.

Valuable Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 15-20-0 against the spread

The Atlanta Hawks are 19-15-0 against the over/under

Important Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 20-15-1 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 13-23-0 against the over/under

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

12/30/18 C Dewayne Dedmon Knee is downgraded to doubtful Monday vs Indiana
12/30/18 G Kent Bazemore Ankle is out indefinitely
12/04/18 SF Taurean Prince Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

12/29/18 G Victor Oladipo Knee is probable Monday vs Atlanta

Player Spotlight

Trae Young comes into this contest averaging 15.6 points per game while playing 29.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 78%. Kent Bazemore averages 14.0 points per game in 27.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 4.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 75%.

Player Spotlight

Victor Oladipo averages 19.5 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per game and has 5.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 16.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.9 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 109.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.5 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 23rd. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 27th in the league. They average 44.8 rebounds per game and 25.7 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 18.0 per game. The Hawks allow 118.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 30th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 24th and 28th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.9 rebounds a game which ranks 22nd and they give up 27.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana is 24th in the league with 107.3 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 6.4. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They are 23rd in the league in rebounding with 44.0 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 25.4. The Pacers are 10th in turnovers per game with 14.5. The Pacers surrender 100.9 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 23.1 assists allowed per contest and 3rd with 42.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pacers are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 29th in the league in defensive rating with 112.6, and their offensive rating of 104.5 is ranked 26th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 104.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. Atlanta is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Indiana is 6th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league. The Pacers are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 103 is ranked 1st. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 11th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 28th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Hawks/Pacers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Indiana -11.5

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