Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/14/2018

Friday, December 14, 2018

Wells Fargo Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Indiana Pacers travel to Wells Fargo Center to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, December 14, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Philadelphia as 4.5 point favorites.

The Pacers head into this matchup with a mark of 18-10. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They have a point differential of 5.1 as they average 106.4 points per contest while giving up 101.3 per game. The 76ers have an overall record of 19-10 this season. They are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They average 114.2 points per game and surrender 112.0, good for a point differential of 2.2.

Valuable Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 14-13-1 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 10-18-0 against the over/under

Important Philadelphia 76ers Betting Trends

The Philadelphia 76ers are 13-16-0 against the spread

The Philadelphia 76ers are 17-11-0 against the over/under

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

12/12/18 F Mike Muscala Illness is questionable Friday vs Indiana
12/12/18 G Jimmy Butler Groin is questionable Friday vs Indiana
11/20/18 PG Markelle Fultz Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Bojan Bogdanovic comes into this contest averaging 16.6 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 81%. Domantas Sabonis averages 14.1 points per game in 24.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 9.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 63% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Joel Embiid averages 26.5 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 13.3 rebounds per game and has 3.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Ben Simmons averages 15.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.0 rebounds per contest and 7.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is 59%.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana averages 106.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.1 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 5th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 43.8 rebounds per game and 24.9 assists per game, which ranks them 22nd and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 9th with 14.9 per game. The Pacers allow 101.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 23.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 25th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia is 7th in the league with 114.2 points per game this year. They are 10th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.2. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 47.3 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 26.6. The 76ers are 3rd in turnovers per game with 15.7. The 76ers surrender 112.0 points per contest, which ranks them 21st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 5th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 21.6 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 44.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The 76ers are 6th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Pacers are 20th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.6, and their defensive rating of 103.4 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 98 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 27th in the league. Indiana is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Philadelphia is 6th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA. The 76ers are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.7, and their offensive rating of 110.9 is ranked 13th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 101.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Pacers/76ers NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Philadelphia -4.5

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