Possible Playoff Preview Has Indiana Facing Cleveland
Pacers vs Cavaliers Lines Favor Home Team
A pair of Eastern Conference playoff teams that are jockeying for position in the standings square off on Friday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Indiana Pacers. Heading into Friday’s action, Cleveland is in fourth in the East, just behind the New York Knicks, which would give the Cavaliers homecourt advantage for their first-round playoff series.
But just behind the Cavs are the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers, both a game back, and the Philadelphia 76ers two games back, leaving these teams to play on the floor but also to watch the NBA basketball scores of other games. The jumble of the Eastern Conference standings shows how close things are and how imperative homecourt advantage will be in the postseason.
The early betting odds for this contest favor the host Cavaliers by 2.5 points on a point-spread wager. The over/under for the game was set at 233 points.
Pacers vs Cavaliers 
Records: Indiana Pacers (46-34) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (47-33)
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Day/Time: Streaming: NBA League Pass
Pacers Heating Up Down Stretch Run
The Pacers are a young team looking to improve their playoff standing before the NBA regular season ends on Sunday. Indiana has won three in a row, including a 140-123 victory on the road over Toronto on Tuesday, pushing their record away from home to 21-19 this season.
There are a lot of offensive weapons for the Pacers, but the most potent is All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who not only can score at will but is atop the NBA assist leaders, dishing out 10.9 per game. Haliburton is scoring 20.3 points per contest and is coming off a 30-point performance in the win over the Raptors. But the 24-year-old can be just as dangerous setting up his teammates.
Forward Pascal Siakam is one of those teammates, having come to the team midseason from Toronto. Siakam is averaging 21.2 points and 7.9 rebounds in 39 games with the Pacers, and he gives the team playoff experience and front line scoring.
Cavaliers Hoping Home Helps Results
A West Coast swing late in the season wasn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for the Cavaliers, who dropped four of five on a road trip necessitated by the women’s NCAA Final Four being held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse last weekend. Cleveland got back on the winning track with a home win over Memphis on Wednesday and finished the season with two straight home games.
For Cleveland to make some noise in the postseason – and in this game – its All-Star backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland must be playing at their best.
Mitchell is scoring 26.5 points per game this season, including going for 38 points and nine assists in his one game against the Pacers. He had 29 points, eight assists, and three steals in the win over the Grizzlies. His scoring total may be one of the better NBA player props to look at for this game.
Garland is averaging 18.1 points and 6.6 assists per game this season. He’ll be matched up with Haliburton in a showdown between two of the exciting guards in the Eastern Conference.
Pacers Pick Up Road Win
Indiana has won two of the three matchups between these teams this season, though Cleveland came out on top in the most recent meeting, 108-103 in March. The Pacers have the more dynamic offense, leading the league in scoring at 122.9 points per game, but Cleveland is one of the better defensive teams in the league, making this a clash in styles.
We see the Pacers coming away with the road win in this one, going against the Pacers vs Cavaliers lines favoring Cleveland. Also, count on this game going over 233 points when you’re making your NBA wagers for Friday night.
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