Summer League action continues on Friday as the Indiana Pacers take on the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas! Join us for our NBA odds series, where our Pacers-Wizards prediction and pick will be revealed.
The Pacers kick off the weekend after having two days off since their last victory over the Pistons 101-87. With a win over the Wizards on Friday night, Indiana would improve to 3-1 in Summer League play while increasing their chance of having a higher seed in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Washington enters play with a 1-2 overall record this summer thus far and are desperate for a win to get themselves back to the .500 mark. They recently were defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans 106-88 on Wednesday.
Here are the Pacers-Wizards Summer League odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
Summer League Odds: Pacers-Wizards Odds
Indiana Pacers: -1.5 (-106)
Washington Wizards: +1.5 (-114)
Over: 178.5 (-110)
Under: 178.5 (-110)
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Why The Pacers Could Cover the Spread
Packed with an exuberant amount of young talent, the Pacers have been showcasing their young stars throughout these summer games in the best way possible. With the chance to possess one of the better records in the Summer League through the first four games, Indiana is certainly capable of covering the spread against the Wizards on Friday night.
To begin, how could Pacers and basketball fans not fall in love with newly acquired forward Bennedict Mathurin? In 18 minutes played on Wednesday, Mathurin erupted for 20 points on 5/9 shooting from the floor. Not to mention, Mathurin also used his aggressive nature to get to the hole frequently which resulted in him going to the charity stripe an abundant amount of times. With a smooth jump shot, impeccable athleticism, and incredible passing vision, Indiana is confident that they found a gem in their first-round pick. Mathurin has also dropped 35 points combined over the course of his past two games. Another 20-point performance by Mathurn could very well be enough to cover the spread versus Washington.
While the Summer League offers opportunities to players who may not get as many chances to show what they can do during the regular season, Indiana has also had some other names pop off in their short time on the court. Look for bigs Terry Taylor and Isaiah Jackson to continue their stellar play, as the formidable duo has combined for 51 points total against the Pistons and Kings.
It is always difficult to know exactly who will be suiting up in these Summer League games, but whoever plays significant minutes for the Pacers will find themselves with a focus on high percentage shots on offense while locking things down on the defensive side of the court.
Why The Wizards Could Cover the Spread
After a tough pill to swallow on Wednesday in the loss to the Pistons, the Wizards are antsy to get back on the court. With only 88 points scored total in the loss that dropped them to 1-2 overall, what name is going to step up on offense?
Washington has yet to crack the 100-point mark through their opening three games of Summer League action. The closest the Wizards have gotten came in their very first game in a 105-99 loss at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. Regardless, even with the shortcomings with the rock in their hands, they have showcased some tenacity on defense. This couldn't have been more evident in their lone win against the Suns. In that contest, the Wizards swarmed Phoenix defensively and caused them to turn the ball over while making the Suns fire up low-percentage shots from the floor.
With that being said, who is going to step up and fill the stat sheet offensively? The Wizards' best bet may come from a plethora of players who are capable of unleashing double-digit performances in the points department. The balanced scoring attack has certainly been a positive note to take away from this Summer League experience thus far.
Washington's biggest threat from trey land may come from guard Tyler Hall, who recently played ball with the G-League's Westchester Knicks. On Wednesday, Hall was dripping wet from beyond the arc by connecting on three of his seven shot attempts from long distance. The Wizards happened to shoot a productive 48% from field goal range but were out-rebounded by the Pelicans 46-25. Therefore, attacking the rim on the offensive and defensive glass may be the key to victory over the Pacers this evening.
Final Pacers-Wizards Prediction & Pick
Both sides could use the win to bolster their chances of ending up with a desirable seed and matchup come Summer League tournament time. While each squad would rather have great performances from their young studs on the court, a hard-fought win would be the cherry on top. Even so, Washington has shown that they are too inconsistent on offense and the all-around ability of Bennedict Mathurin will prove to be too much for the Wizards. Hammer the Pacers spread in this Eastern Conference showdown!
Final Pacers-Wizards Prediction & Pick: Pacers -1.5 (-106)
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