The Dallas Mavericks head to the Conseco Fieldhouse to take on the Indiana Pacers. The game gets underway at 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and will air on FSW and FxI.
The Pacers were victorious over the Raptors 106-90 on Monday. C.J. Miles had 17 points, four rebounds, and one steal for Indiana. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are coming off a 104-94 win over the Suns on Monday. Raymond Felton played well for Dallas, posting 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, the turnover story could loom large in this showdown. Dallas commits the fourth-fewest errors in the NBA (turnover percentage of 13.5%), while Indiana’s gambling defense causes the second-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 16.7%).
The Pacers are a four-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is 204 points. The Pacers are attempting to build on their records of 14-9 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). They have a record of 3-5 SU and 1-7 ATS versus the Western Conference. Whenever an Western Conference opponent shows up on the calendar, the Pacers seem to struggle on defense. They allow an average of 99.4 points per game, but allow 110.2 against teams from the West.
On the other side, Dallas has a SU record of 14-11 and an ATS record of 15-10. In Eastern Conference games, Dallas has gone 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS. The Mavericks are a terror on the defensive glass, averaging an impressive 35.5 defensive rebounds per game.
This game marks the first time these teams will play this season. The last time the Pacers and the Mavericks played, Indiana won, moving its SU record against the Mavericks to 6-4 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings. Additionally, the Pacers lead the matchup ATS with a record of 8-2.
Predictions: SU Winner – Ind, ATS Winner – Dal, O/U – Over
Notes
Indiana is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana’s last 6 games.
Indiana is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games.
Indiana is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games.
Indiana is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home.
Indiana is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Dallas.
Indiana scores an average of 103.6 points per game (ranked sixth). Dallas ranks 14th in points allowed per game with 100.6.
Dallas ranks eighth in points allowed per road game (102.7 PPG), while Indiana ranks 13th in points per home game with 102.3.
In games where they allow fewer than 100 points, the Indiana Pacers are a stellar 11-2. In games where they fail to hit triple digits, the Dallas Mavericks have a poor record of 3-8.
When allowing 100 or more points in a game, the Pacers are just 3-7 this season. Dallas is a superb 11-3 when it hits the century mark.
The Mavericks have a defensive rating of 101.4 (ranked 13th). The Pacers rank ninth for their offensive rating of 103.3.
On average, Indiana has 100.3 possessions per game and scores 1.033 points on each possession. Dallas has both fewer possessions (98.6) and scores fewer points during those possessions (1.031).
Indiana has an average effective field goal percentage of 49.9%. Dallas is a losing 4-7 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
Indiana makes an average of 20.3 assists per game (ranked 23rd). Dallas ranks higher in assists with 21.5 (ranked 15th).
Indiana makes an average of 4.2 blocks per game (ranked 23rd), while Dallas makes 3.6 blocks per game (ranked 28th).
Indiana ranks in the top half of the NBA in offensive rebounding at 13th, while Dallas ranks near the top of the league (fifth) in defensive rebounding.
Making 9.1 steals per game, Indiana is ranked fifth in the NBA. Dallas has a winning 7-3 record when it allows at least 9 steals.
