Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/25/2018

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to play the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, March 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Indiana as 4.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 39-34. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 103.3 points per contest while giving up 103.0 per game. The Pacers have an overall record of 42-31. They currently are 2nd in the Central Division. They are averaging 105.7 points per game and surrendering 104.2, good for a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 37-30-6 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 33-37-3 against the over/under

Important Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 41-32-0 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 26-44-3 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/24/18 C Hassan Whiteside Hip is doubtful Sunday vs Indiana
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

03/24/18 F Domantas Sabonis Ankle is doubtful Sunday vs Miami

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic averages 17.7 points per game in 31.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.8 assists per contest and 4 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%. Josh Richardson comes into this contest averaging 12.9 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Victor Oladipo averages 23.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 4.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 81%. Myles Turner averages 13.6 points per game while playing 28.6 minutes per contest this year for the Pacers. He grabs 6.8 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 103 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 12th, and they give up 20.7 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 14 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league. Miami averages 103.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.32 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pacers surrender 104.2 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 22.7 assists allowed per contest, and 16th with 42.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pacers are 28th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.4 per game this season. Indiana is 17th in the league with 105.7 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.48. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They are 22nd in the league in rebounding with 42.3 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 22. The Pacers are 25th in turnovers per game with 13.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 14th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Miami is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Indiana is 23rd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 12th in the NBA. The Pacers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 19th. They are 21st in the NBA in pace with 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Indiana -4.5

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