The Indiana Pacers (8-5) travel to Houston to take on the Rockets (4-7) in a game that will likely be low scoring. The game starts at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 11, 2018, and will air on Fox Sports Midwest – Indiana.
Houston opened as a 2.5-point favorite, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 209 points.
Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets ATS Prediction
The last time the Pacers played, they covered the 2.5-point spread against the Miami Heat, 110-102. The combined points for the game (212) were over the O/U total of 207. The Pacers forced 23 turnovers and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.589 (above their season average of 0.533). With 22 points on 9-for-22 shooting, Victor Oladipo was the game’s high scorer.
The Rockets fell to the San Antonio Spurs in their last contest, 96-89, despite being 5-point favorites. The total points for the game (185) came in well under the O/U total of 213.5. San Antonio made 10 of their 20 three pointers (50.0 percent), while Houston was 9-41 (22.0 percent). With 25 points on 7-for-27 shooting, James Harden led Houston in scoring.
Half-court execution will be critical when two of the league’s slowest-paced teams square off. Houston ranks 28th in possessions per game (99.6) and Indiana is 29th (99.6).
Indiana heads into the contest with records of 8-5 straight up (SU) and 6-6-1 against the spread (ATS). Vegas has a tendency to place the total high when the Pacers are involved, as eight of their 13 games have gone under the O/U total.
Meanwhile, Houston is 4-7 SU and 3-7 ATS. Vegas has been spot on when predicting totals of Rockets games, with an even split between overs and unders.
Oladipo has averaged 27.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals over the last five games for Indiana.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. Harden had 28 points and six assists in the first matchup, in which the Rockets, who were 1-point underdogs, beat the Pacers 98-94. The game finished with a total of 192 points, which was 23.5 points below the projected point total of 215.5 points. Houston had a better effective field goal percentage (0.546 vs. 0.493). Indiana, on the other hand, had a better free throw rate (0.267 vs. 0.197).
Pacers vs. Rockets Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Pacers, ATS Winner – Pacers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes:
On the road, Indiana is 3-3-1 ATS with 4 overs and 3 unders.
Houston is 0-4 ATS at home with 2 overs and 2 unders.
Indiana is 2-1 when they allow below 100 points, while Houston is 2-2.
The Pacers are 8-1 when they score over 100 points, while the Rockets are 2-3.
Houston ranks first in three pointers attempted per game (41.8) while Indiana ranks 28th (24.2).
The Pacers rank first in points allowed in the paint per game (40.0) while the Rockets rank 20th (50.4).
Houston ranks fifth in blocks per game (6.1) while Indiana ranks 20th in blocks allowed per game (6.0).
The Pacers rank third in points off turnovers per game (21.1) while the Rockets rank 14th (17.1).
Indiana ranks fourth in steals allowed per game (6.6) while Houston ranks 14th (7.5).
The Pacers rank fifth in rebounds allowed per game (41.8) while the Rockets rank 15th (45.5).
Indiana ranks first in second chance points allowed per game (10.8) while Houston ranks 10th (12.0).
The Rockets rank second in assists allowed per game (21.0) while the Pacers rank ninth (22.8).
Bettings Trends:
Over its last five contests, Indiana is 2-3 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over.
Houston is 2-3 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over its last five games.
The Pacers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 0.2, down from 3.8 for the season.
During their last five games, the Rockets have scored an average of 96.4 points per game (5.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 97.4 points per game (10.3 below their season average).
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