Pacers vs Hornets Prediction: NBA Play-In Tournament Picks
May 18, 2021
The NBA play-in tournament will kick off with the first play-in game between the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets. While it wasn't the goal of either team to end up in the play-in tournament, a win in the first play-in game could see either side through to the first round of the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
In this round of NBA picks, we look at the first play-in game of the first ever NBA play-in tournament and give our best bet for this showdown between the Pacers and Hornets.
Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets Betting Pick
This game will be played at 6:30 PM ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Why bet the Pacers:
✅ The Indiana Pacers have the sixth best scoring average in the NBA this season, while the Charlotte Hornets sit in the bottom-third of the league in scoring on the year. Players like Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball haven't led to efficient offense during the Hornets' regular season games. And on a bigger stage here, the Hornets should continue to struggle putting the ball in the basket.
✅ There are injury concerns for both sides here. The Pacers have key players like Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis questionable, while Myles Turner is out for the season. And the Hornets will be without Gordon Hayward and Cody Martin. But the Pacers have superior depth, as contributors like Caris LeVert and Doug McDermott should be able to help them more than the Hornets' role players.
✅ The Charlotte Hornets come into the play-in tournament ice cold, having lost their last five regular season games. Without Gordon Hayward, the Hornets' play has been erratic at best. Expect LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and company to see their season end after this contest.
General Info About Charlotte Hornets vs Indiana Pacers
Where do the Indiana Pacers paly their home games?
The Pacers compete at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis when they are the designated home team. There, they have been involved in series against some of the top teams in the NBA in recent seasons. And the Pacers have also had some of the best teams in the NBA in their own right, as their win percentage has been consistently impressive.
Where do the Charlotte Hornets play their home games?
Each season, the Charlotte Hornets hold their home games at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The Hornets are a team that has been improving over the years, with fans flocking to that venue to watch them undergo that metamorphosis on a regular basis.
What is the key to Hornets vs Pacers?
The biggest key to this matchup is being able to lock in defensively. Points are not as hard to come by as they used to be in the NBA, with point totals continuing to increase as offenses become more efficient. But the team that is best able to limit the outside shooting of their opponent here should be able to win this Eastern Conference clash.
Pacers vs Hornets Predictions
When making predictions on matchups between the Pacers and Hornets, bettors have to consider everything that goes into picking an NBA game. Stats like points per game are helpful, but those are only the beginning as per game stats don't always give bettors the proper context on what is about to happen from a sports betting perspective.
When we make predictions on basketball games, we consider the stats and how they apply to the odds. But we also look at everything from injuries to the matchups that are set to take place on the floor for each game. This allows us to deliver the best NBA betting picks to you.
Indiana Pacers vs Hornets Against the Spread Predictions
Point spread betting is arguably the most popular form of sports betting when it comes to the NBA. When betting on Charlotte and Indiana against the spread, the goal is to determine how many points one team or the other should win by. Point spread odds require the side that is favored to win by enough points to cover the spread. The underdog, meanwhile, can just lose by a small enough margin that the point spread added to their score is enough to win.
Charlotte Hornets vs Pacers Over/Under Betting
Over/under betting is all about how many points are scored during each game. In this market, the odds set by bookmakers represent the total combined score from both teams. Bettors then have to decide whether the points scored will be over or under that number.
In order to win games in the over/under market, bettors need to understand statistics for each side. Things like points per game, shooting efficiency and the shooting efficiency that a team allows are all worth keeping an eye on when looking at odds in the totals market.
Hornets vs Pacers Moneyline Betting
In the moneyline market, the goal of bettors is to determine who is going to win games in the National Basketball Association. Moneyline odds look a little different than the odds for spreads and totals, as bettors have to navigate the additional vig on favorites or plus prices on underdogs. But the goal is to pick the winner of each game in this market regardless of what their odds may be.
Pacers vs Hornets Odds
The odds for matchups between the Pacers and Hornets are determined by how a team is playing throughout the season. But things like injury news can have a drastic impact on who is favored to come out on top. The absence of even one star player can impact a team's shooting or defense enough to change their odds prior to tip-off. For that reason, bettors should always keep an eye on the injury report before looking at the odds and placing a wager on pro basketball.
Hornets vs Pacers Live Streaming
Fans who want to watch Charlotte and Indiana take to the court can do so through a variety of live streaming platforms. Services like NBA League Pass, Hulu and YouTube TV all offer live streaming of games throughout the season. Bettors can use those options to watch games live and see if they were able to beat the odds and win their bets.
