Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/18/2018

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to play the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Indiana as 12 point favorites.

The Cavaliers have a record of 7-23. They are 5th in the Central Division. They have a point differential of -8.4 as they average 103.4 points per game while giving up 111.8 per contest. The Pacers have an overall record of 20-10 this season. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They average 106.7 points per game and surrender 101.2, good for a point differential of 5.5.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 14-15-0 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 13-16-0 against the over/under

Important Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 15-13-1 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 10-19-0 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/11/18 F Tristan Thompson Foot is out indefinitely
11/26/18 G JR Smith Possible Trade is out indefinitely
11/16/18 F John Henson Wrist is out indefinitely
10/29/18 F Kevin Love Foot is out indefinitely

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

12/16/18 G Tyreke Evans Knee is questionable Tuesday vs Cleveland

Player Spotlight

Rodney Hood comes into this contest averaging 13.0 points per game while playing 28.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 90%. Jordan Clarkson averages 16.7 points per game in 25.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Bojan Bogdanovic averages 16.5 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Domantas Sabonis averages 14.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 24.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.9 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 103.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 25th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 9th in the league. They average 43.9 rebounds per game and 19.9 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 27th with 13.1 per game. The Cavaliers allow 111.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 23rd in the league. They also allow a 49% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 30th and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.9 rebounds a game which ranks 7th and they give up 24.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 12.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana is 25th in the league with 106.7 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 5.5. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 43.9 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 25.3. The Pacers are 11th in turnovers per game with 14.5. The Pacers surrender 101.2 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 19th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 22.9 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 42.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pacers are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 116.3 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 28th in the league with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 28th. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 29th in the league. Cleveland is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 1st in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Indiana is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 25th in the NBA. The Pacers are 19th in the league in defensive rating with 103.3, and their offensive rating of 109 is ranked 2nd. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Indiana -12

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