After falling short to the Charlotte Hornets, the Indiana Pacers will face a similar foe – a team that beat them earlier this week – the Chicago Bulls.
The Indiana Pacers are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference and are again looking to take down a team that is second in the East with a record of 22-10. The Pacers are 14-21.
After the loss on Sunday in Chicago, head coach Rick Carlisle had this to say on the team’s struggles:
“That’s not going to cut it against a team like Chicago with two stars. They got rolling. We just didn’t do enough in the first half to keep them from getting going.”
It will be a challenge for Indiana, who will now be without their point guard Malcolm Brogdon and first-round draft pick Chris Duarte due to health and safety protocols.
They lost depth and for this reason, the Pacers waived Brad Wannamaker to sign point guard Keifer Sykes from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
The team has also signed Nate Hinton from the Mad Ants – who played for the Pacers during the preseason and will now be with the team on a 10-day hardship contract.
Pacers vs Bulls Odds, Spread, Over/Under, and Betting Pick
The latest odds from WynnBET (sign up with this link) have the Bulls as -4.0 favorites against the Indiana Pacers who have the home-court advantage. Chicago stands as a -190 moneyline favorite while Indiana is currently a +155 moneyline underdog.
The over/under for this contest has been set at 222.0, another high-scoring bout in store for both teams. A shootout is anticipated by the oddsmakers.
Projected Pacers Starting Lineup Tonight
PG: Caris LeVert
SG: Kelan Martin
SF: Justin Holiday
PF: Myles Turner
C: Domantas Sabonis
Injury Report
Injury Report: (12/31/21 08:30 AM)
Indiana Pacers: Brogdon, Malcolm Out Health and Safety Protocols, Chris Duarte – Out Health and Safety Protocols, Isaiah Jackson – Out Health and Safety Protocols, Jeremy Lamb – Out Health and Safety Protocols, T.J. McConnell – Out Injury/Illness – Right Wrist, T.J. Warren – Out Injury/Illness – Left Navicular; Fracture
Chicago Bulls: Ball, Lonzo Out Health and Safety Protocols, Bradley, Tony Out Health and Safety Protocols Caruso, Alex Out Injury/Illness, Ilyasova, Ersan Out Health and Safety Protocols, McKinnie, Alfonzo Out Health and Safety Protocols, Simonovic, Marko Out, Health and Safety Protocols, Williams, Patrick Out Injury/Illness – Left Wrist; Ligament Tear
Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls Prediction
The Indiana Pacers will be without six of their players and Chicago without seven of their own as well. However, the Pacers will be missing more key guys to their depth in Chris Duarte and of course their starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon.
However, the Pacers’ second unit takes a hit as well to the COVID-19 protocols, losing first-round draft pick Isaiah Jackson and Jeremy Lamb, who was filling in larger rotational minutes with Warren, McConnell, and Brogdon missing.
For the Pacers, a strong start and as much momentum as possible will be crucial. Guys like Oshae Brissett and Keifer Sykes will have to step up in the scoring column if the Pacers want a shot at victory.
The Bulls will have their three best players in Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic, and Demar DeRozan. The Bulls’ big three scored a combined 61 points in their latest win against an undermanned Atlanta Hawks.
Vucevic had 20 rebounds in that game – look at that matchup with Sabonis.
All of those guys will be playing in this contest against Indiana and for that reason, I think Chicago will take this win home.
Pacers 105, Bulls 115
Make your pick now on WynnBET.
What channel is the Indiana Pacers game on?
Friday’s contest will air on Bally Sports Indiana (Indianapolis) and NBC Sports Chicago and will tip-off at 3 PM ET.
Pacers Next Game and Schedule
For their first game of the calendar year 2022, Indiana will travel to Cleveland on Jan. 2 to face the Cavs at 6:00 PM ET. The Cavs are currently the 5th seed with a record of 20 wins and15 losses.
Jan. 04 @ New York
Jan. 05 vs Brooklyn
Jan. 08 vs Utah
Jan. 10 @ Boston
Jan. 12 vs Boston