Key Highlights
- The New Orleans Pelicans will face the Indiana Pacers in a game on Friday, January 16.
- New Orleans is coming off a win over Brooklyn while Indiana lost to Toronto on Wednesday.
- The Pelicans are fifth in the Southwest Division and have a 3-15 record on the road this season.
- Indiana is fifth in the Central Division with a 7-16 home record.
- Tioff from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will host the game at 7 p.m. ET.
- Indiana is favored by 4 points, and the over/under for total points scored is set at 241.5.
Pelicans vs. Pacers: A Key NBA Match-Up
The New Orleans Pelicans will travel to Indianapolis on Friday night, January 16, to take on the Indiana Pacers in an exciting matchup of two divisional rivals within the NBA.
Coming into this game, the Pelicans have shown resilience with a recent victory against the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, the Pacers suffered a tough defeat at the hands of the Toronto Raptors.
New Orleans Pelicans: A Road Test
The Pelicans are currently fifth in their Southwest Division and have struggled on the road this season. Despite their better performance at home (10-23), they must overcome their recent poor form away from New Orleans, where they have a 3-15 record.
Indiana Pacers: Staying Home
The Indiana Pacers, who currently hold the fifth spot in the Central Division, are facing challenges at home as well. With an 8-9 road record and a 7-16 performance on their home court, they have had a tough season.
Key Injuries and Absences
The Pelicans will miss key players Herbert Jones (ankle) and Jose Alvarado (oblique), while the Pacers are also dealing with injuries. Bennedict Mathurin (thumb) and Isaiah Jackson (concussion) won’t be able to participate in this game.
Prediction and Betting Advice
Despite the Pacers’ home advantage, SportsLine’s model predicts that the underdog New Orleans Pelicans will have a strong showing against their division rivals. The model simulates 10,000 games and reveals that the Pelicans are favored to win with a score of 98-93.
Additionally, the model is going for an under total (241.5 points) in this game. The last New Orleans game went under the total, while Indiana has seen five straight games fail to hit the total. The model projects 239 combined points as the under hits in 55% of simulations.
Expert Picks and Streams
For those looking for more insight into this matchup, the model offers specific picks and advice on how to bet. New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $300 in bonus bets if your $5+ bet wins.
The game will be streamed by Fubo (try for free), providing fans with a chance to watch live or catch up later.
Conclusion
As the Pelicans and Pacers prepare for their Friday night showdown, fans should keep an eye on the underdog Pelicans, who are predicted to perform well against the favored Indiana team. With significant injuries to both sides, this game promises a challenging matchup that could see unexpected results.
