Nets vs. Pacers NBA expert prediction and odds for Monday, April 1 (Count on the fast-paced Indiana offense)

The Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers will square off three times in 19 days. In the first matchup on March 16, Indiana pulled away for a 121-100 victory. The second tilt goes down at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Monday night. 

Indiana is still clinging to the all-important No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference, currently with a half-game lead on the Miami Heat. The Pacers went 8-7 in March and are coming off a dominating 109-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Can they pull away against the Nets again as a double-digit favorite? Brooklyn had a three-game winning streak snapped by the Lakers on Sunday, 116-104. Here’s the betting preview for the matchup with a best bet. 

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Nets vs. Pacers odds, spread and total

Nets vs. Pacers how to watch

• Date: Monday, April 1 
• Game time: 7 p.m. EST
• Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
• Nets record: 29-46 
• Pacers record: 42-33

Nets vs. Pacers injury report

Brooklyn Nets

• No injuries to report 

Indiana Pacers

• No injuries to report 

Nets vs. Pacers key players to watch

Brooklyn Nets

Cam Thomas: Thomas looks like he’ll be a crucial part to the Nets rebuild down the road as Brooklyn inches closer toward being eliminated from playoff contention (4.5 games back of Atlanta for the No. 10 seed). Thomas, a former first-round pick, has averaged 32 points over the last three games. He poured in 30 in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers and had 38 in an overtime win over Washington on Wednesday. 

Indiana Pacers

Pascal Siakam: Indiana’s big splash at the NBA Trade Deadline, Siakam has turned in a double-double in six of the last 10 games following Friday’s 22-point, 11-rebound performance in the win over the Lakers. Siakam had 28 points on 11-of-22 shooting and 11 boards in Indiana’s home win over the Nets a few weeks ago. 

Nets vs. Pacers prediction and pick

A fast-paced game is not what Brooklyn wants. In the matchup March 16, the Pacers used its up-tempo style of play (No. 2 in the NBA in pace) to speed things up and turn Brooklyn’s offense inside out. 

The Nets, top-10 in the NBA in ball security, coughed it up 20 times in that game and lost by 21 points despite getting to the free-throw line 31 times (Indiana had 16 free-throw attempts). Indiana’s defense hasn’t been anything to write home about, but Brooklyn’s struggles on the road and inability to keep up in a track meet is cause for concern. 

Brooklyn, No. 23 in pace, is No. 28 in field goal percentage and No. 25 in scoring on the road. The Nets are just 13-24 ATS this season outside of Barclays Center (the third-worst ATS mark in the NBA), which includes a 10-17 mark as a road underdog. 

On the defensive end, Brooklyn is a respectable 17th in the NBA in effective field goal percentage, but couldn’t contain Indiana flying up the court as the Pacers shot 47.6% from the field that night. Brooklyn is No. 9 in defending 2-point shots but that didn’t stop the Pacers from going 44-of-75 from inside the arc (6-of-30 beyond it) in March. Indiana’s style of play and its frontcourt of Siakam, Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith can control this matchup. Look for the Pacers to play their game and go over their posted team total, a number they've gone over seven times in their last 10 games.

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.