Are the Indiana Pacers for real this season?
Once expected to end up in the lottery, the Pacers are off to a great start, going 20-17 and sitting in the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Tyrese Haliburton looks like an All-Star so far this season, and Buddy Hield and Myles Turner may not end up getting dealt at the trade deadline if the team is still in the playoff race.
The Pacers picked up a home upset over the Los Angeles Clippers to close 2022, and they’re back at home on Monday to open 2023 against the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto has been a disappointment this season, sitting in 12th in the Eastern Conference and struggling mightily on the road (5-12 straight up).
With Fred VanVleet’s status (back, questionable) up in the air for this game, can the Pacers grow their lead on the Miami Heat and New York Knicks for the No. 6 spot?
Here’s my best bet for this Eastern Conference showdown:
Raptors vs. Pacers odds, spread and total
Raptors vs. Pacers prediction and pick
This is a pretty simple handicap for me, as Indiana is one of the better home teams in the league this season. The Pacers are 12-7 straight up, while the Raptors have won just five of their 17 games on the road.
If VanVleet is unable to go, I’d make the Pacers closer to three-point favorites in this game, so I think we’re getting a little early value on them at -120 on the moneyline.
Indiana just beat a tough Los Angeles team at home, and the Pacers have beaten the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Clippers on this home stand.
While the Raptors have covered in seven of their 11 games as road dogs, they are just 3-8 straight up in those games.
I’ll ride with this hot Indiana team on Monday.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.