The Indiana Pacers host the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET. Indiana is 43-31 and holding on to the 4th seed in the East. Sacramento sits 10th in the West at 36-38 and is just one game ahead of Phoenix for the final Play-In spot.
This is the second meeting between these teams this season. Indiana won 122-95 on December 22 in Sacramento. Both teams are coming off weekend losses and are looking to bounce back with the regular season winding down.
IND Preview – Holding On to Home Court
The Pacers are trying to secure a top-four seed and home court for the first round. They’ve lost two of their last three but had just come off a five-game win streak. Their last game was a 132-111 loss to the Thunder where they allowed 71 points in the second half.
Pascal Siakam has struggled lately, scoring under 15 points in four straight games. He averages 20.5 points per game but finished with 11 against Oklahoma City. Tyrese Haliburton had 18 points and continues to lead Indiana with 18.6 points and 9.1 assists per game.
Indiana ranks 10th in the NBA in scoring at 115.9 points per game and shoots 47.7% from the field. They are also 24-10 at home. The Pacers have covered the 4th quarter spread in 27 of their last 39 games and are strong late in games.
SAC Preview – Kings Struggling to Stay in the Play-In
The Kings have dropped five of their last six games and are slipping in the Western Conference standings. They were blown out 121-91 by Orlando on Saturday and never led in that game. Sacramento is 17-19 on the road this season and just 29-42-3 against the spread overall.
DeMar DeRozan continues to lead the team with 22 points per game. He scored 21 points last game and has posted 20 or more in nine of his last ten. Domantas Sabonis had 14 points and 13 rebounds against Orlando and leads the NBA with 14.0 rebounds per game.
Zach LaVine is averaging 21 points since joining the team in a trade from Chicago. Sacramento is 10th in field goal percentage but ranks near the bottom in 3-point makes and attempts. They’ve struggled to score early, ranking 26th in first-quarter scoring.
Betting Prediction
Indiana is a 5.5-point home favorite and the total is set at 235.5. The Pacers won the first meeting by 27 points and have been strong at home all season. Sacramento has been inconsistent and has struggled to cover the spread, especially on the road.
Indiana has hit the moneyline in 33 of their last 49 games and is 24-10 at home. The Kings are fading late in the season and may not have enough defense to stop the Pacers. The projected score is Indiana 120, Sacramento 109. Indiana should win and cover.
Pick: Pacers -5.5
The Pacers get the best of the Kings in Indianapolis. Enjoy this game and best of luck with all your National Basketball Association betting!
