Portland Trail Blazers vs Indiana Pacers Predictions, NBA Picks 2/27/2020

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Indiana Pacers

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Indiana -10.5

Total/Over-Under: 220

CJ McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers (26-33, 4th in the Northwest Division) travel to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday where they'll meet the Indiana Pacers (34-24, 2nd in the Central Division). Indiana opens this game as 10.5 point favorites. The O/U is set at 220.

The Blazers cover the spread 40.4% of the time, having gone 23-34-2 ATS. Indiana is covering 54.4% of the time, going 31-26-1 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/25/19 PF Zach Collins Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/06/19 SG Rodney Hood Achilles is out indefinitely
10/19/19 C Jusuf Nurkic Leg is out indefinitely
02/19/20 PG Damian Lillard Groin is out indefinitely

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

02/25/20 PG Edmond Sumner Hip is questionable Thursday vs Portland
02/25/20 SG Victor Oladipo Back is questionable Thursday vs Portland
02/24/20 SG Jeremy Lamb ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum comes into this game averaging 21.9 points per contest while playing 35.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 74%. Carmelo Anthony averages 15.5 points per contest in 32.6 minutes per game. He averages 1.5 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Domantas Sabonis scores 18.3 points per contest while playing 34.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 12.5 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Myles Turner averages 11.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.3 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 113.2 points per contest, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -2.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They average 45.6 boards per contest and 20.1 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 27th with 12.9 per game. The Blazers allow 115.3 points per contest, which is 26th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 27th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.9 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 24.4 assists per game which puts them in 15th place in the league. They force 12.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana is 21st in the NBA with 109.3 points per contest this season. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 2.05. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 13th in the league. They are 26th in the NBA in rebounding with 42.8 boards per contest and 5th in assists per game with 26.2. The Pacers are 26th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Pacers give up 107.3 points per game, which ranks them 6th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 7th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 23.3 dimes allowed per game and 12th with 44.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Pacers are 14th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 114, and their offensive rating of 111.9 is ranked 27th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 20th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA. Portland is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Indiana is 26th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA. The Pacers are 16th in the league in defensive rating with 108.3, and their offensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 9th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 98.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Indiana -10.5

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