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The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets will play in an Eastern Conference matchup on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Pacers-Nets prediction and pick.
The Pacers and Nets will play Friday, with each team looking to get on the right foot after tough starts to the 2021-22 season. The Pacers are 1-4 and have suffered from some early injury trouble, while the Nets are 2-3 and navigating a myriad of early season issues. James Harden is still looking to find himself under the NBA's new foul rules, and Kyrie Irving is still missing in action, which may be a thing that is resolved at a later point rather than any time in the near future.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Pacers-Nets odds for this Friday matchup.
NBA Odds: Pacers-Nets Odds
Indiana Pacers +8.5 (-110), +310 ML
Brooklyn Nets -8.5 (-110), -390 ML
Over 222.5 points (-110)
Under 222.5 points (-110)
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Why The Pacers Can Cover The Spread
The Pacers were already without T.J. Warren heading into the season, and now they are missing lead guard Malcolm Brogdon as well. This is arguably their best two players, so it has been hard for Indiana to replace the production to say the least. The Pacers as currently constructed should not beat the Nets, but Brooklyn, as stated above, has their own set of issues to work out. This doesn't feel like a great spot to play the Pacers, but with the way the Nets look right now, it might not be the worst idea. Fading Kevin Durant and Harden, who will wake up at some point, seems like a risky idea, still.
Why The Nets Can Cover The Spread
The Nets are adjusting to all of their new pieces, as well as trying to get James Harden going under the NBA's new foul rules. Harden is shooting just three free throws per game, and his scoring is way down overall. He's too talented of a player for this to continue, but the rule change is certainly in his head through five games. Harden is averaging just 16 points per game, his lowest total since he played for the Oklahoma City Thunder. It seems like only a matter of time before he breaks out, but until the Nets show more consistency it is sort of difficult to pick them to cover a rather large spread. Still, if you want to play the talent, they are definitely the team to beat tonight and SHOULD blow out the Pacers as currently constructed. Kevin Durant is the same top-3 player he has been for nearly a decade, so the Nets are certainly not lacking.
Final Pacers-Nets Prediction & Pick
It may not be the most confident bet, but ride with the Nets and their talent and look for a big game from James Harden tonight vs. the Pacers.
FINAL PACERS-NETS PREDICTION & PICK: Nets -8.5 (-110)
