Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Understanding Public and Money
Expert Picks
The Pacers' Obi Toppin faces a difficult rebounding matchup Tuesday, as Cleveland gives up the third-fewest rebounds to his position. Toppin grabbed two rebounds in 18 minutes when these teams played Sunday. Look for Toppin to fall below five rebounds for the eighth time in his last 11 games.
After the Pacers won this first leg of the back-to-back by 15 on Sunday, the ML price puts a lot of faith in the Cavs and the 12 straight wins they recorded prior to Sunday. Yet shortchanging the Pacers (six straight wins) might not be advisable. Better value might exist tonight with totals, specifically the under side, especially if Tyrese Halliburton (hamstring) can't make the post for Indiana. He was injured in the Sunday game and scored just 2 points before going down, yet perhaps illustrative of his absence is how the pace slowed thereafter. Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson lamented Cleveland's second-half defensive shortcomings after the Sunday loss and would expect the Cavs to especially buckle down on the stop end tonight. Play Cavs-Pacers Under
I know the Pacers just beat the Cavs, but that's part of why I like Cleveland. The Cavaliers have been on such a run that at times maybe it's difficult to get up for certain games. I think Indiana got their attention now. Cleveland has covered five straight on the road, and its average margin of cover in those games is 5.4 points. The Cavs tend to blow people out once they get the offense going, and I don't think the Pacers can withstand the Twin Tower presence inside the paint. Some run-and-gun teams like Atlanta and Indiana have been a problem for Cleveland, but I expect a correction.
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton is not expected to play tonight and while TJ McConnell might not start for him, he will play a lot more minutes. The SL Model has McConnell at 19.1 P/A. He nearly got to this number in Sunday's upset of Cleveland in just 17 minutes. I expect at least 10 more minutes tonight.
Evan Mobley has recorded at least 10 rebounds in four of his last five games. For the season, he is averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. Myles Turner is not a great rebounding center for the Pacers, averaging just 7.1 rebounds per game. When these two teams met Sunday, Mobley recorded 12 rebounds. Mobley also had at least 10 rebounds in two of three games against the Pacers last season. Expect him to be busy on the boards again.
Donovan Mitchell has had a very month of January averaging only 16 PPG on 38% shooting. As a result, we're getting a nice discount here and this is a nice buy low spot for Mitchell. The Pacers play at the 10th fastest pace, while ranking 20th in Defensive Efficiency. While Indiana's defense has improved, they still present an excellent matchup and are still a plus matchup for opposing scoring guards. Mitchell is too good to continue struggling and I like his chances of busting out of his scoring slump. I'd play this up to 23.5.