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NBA preview and tips: Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks

It’s last-chance-saloon time for the Indiana Pacers (33-41) as they continue their hitherto fruitless quest for the playoffs, while the Atlanta Hawks (36-37) have fared much better and look a shoo-in.

Indiana have lost four of their last six games including last night's 120-95 reversal in Boston. They turn straight around to play in Atlanta this evening, while the Hawks have had a two-day rest.

While that does seem a very favourable spot, we should remember these things are considered when the line is set, and the bookmakers have made Atlanta a -10 favourite.

Stats are often your friend when betting on the NBA and they paint a slightly different picture here, with Atlanta being just 1-7 ATS when playing on two days of rest.
The Pacers are 5-4 ATS when playing on no rest this season, and they've compiled that record against some good teams. One of those losses saw them fall by five to the Suns as a +3 dog, and another came as they lost by six in Orlando as a +5.5 dog.

Suggested Bet: Indiana Pacers +10

So even on no rest, the Pacers have been very, very competitive. There are also two examples of them losing by double digits on the first night of the back-to-back and keeping the second game within one score or even winning it.
The Pacers are 5-2 ATS on the back of a loss, 5-1 ATS as an underdog on the road and 4-1 ATS against teams with a winning home record. This is not a team that has given up, and although making the playoffs is unlikely, they're still fighting.
In many of our situational bets, we like to know that the team we're backing has some making up to do. Not only did the Pacers lose heavily last night, they did so in part thanks to their meagre three-point shooting. Indiana made just 14 per cent of their attempts from beyond the arc.
That is a season low for them and one they should bounce back from against Atlanta.
The Hawks were not victorious last time out, but they did cover, and they're just 10-26 ATS after covering the spread in their previous game.

While Dejounte Murray is set to return for Atlanta here, the Hawks could be without Trae Young who is questionable. Should he not suit up, then the -10 spread could shift to -6 or even -5.

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