Pacers 8-5-1 ATS at Home, Getting 4 Points Against League-Leading Lakers

• Lakers visit Indiana to take on Pacers team with just three home losses on season
• Los Angeles seeking 15th straight road win since dropping season opener
• Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below

Following a Milwaukee loss Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-3, 14-1 away) seek their 15th straight road win and sole possession of best record in the NBA, as they visit the surprisingly stout Indiana Pacers (18-9, 11-3 home), still waiting for their superstar to return to the lineup. Tip-off is set for 7pm ET.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers Odds

Odds taken December 17th

The Lakers have yet to lose a game outside of the city of Los Angeles, as their lone road loss was in the season opener to the host Clippers at Staples Center. With a mega showdown looming in Milwaukee Thursday night, can the Lakers avoid a letdown against a Pacers team that has one of the best home records in the league, as well as a solid 8-5-1 mark against the spread?

Lakers on Pace For Greatness

The superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis is that good, the most lethal and multi-faceted in the NBA.

In the @Lakers 15 road games:

LeBron James: 403 points
Anthony Davis: 401 points

LBJ and AD are the first teammates in @NBAHistory to each score 400+ points in their team's first 15 road games of a season. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/qjir31OeS2

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 16, 2019

James has redefined his game, particularly as the primary ball handler and set up man, for a starting lineup that doesn’t have a point guard. He’s upped his assist level to 10.7 dimes a game, which happens to be the highest number in his career, in this, his self-proclaimed #washedking 17th season. It also leads the NBA. And just for good measure, he’s still dropping 261. points per game on 50.2% shooting, and chipping in 7.3 rebounds.

Ain’t that like LeBron James…https://t.co/THi9Ns0T1m

— Ry (@JustRyCole) December 16, 2019

Meanwhile, Davis is the top recipient of all those James dimes. According to data from Second Spectrum, James has played setup to Davis buckets a league-leading 86 times, 23 clear of the next best duo of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. The ‘Brow is pouring in 27.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a night, and piling up 2.6 blocks a contest – helping the Lakers lead the NBA in blocks at 7.1 a game.

💪 @AntDavis23 (33 PTS, 10 REB) & @KingJames (28 PTS, 9 REB, 12 AST) power the @Lakers 13th straight road win! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/Y0TJgN1ha9

— NBA (@NBA) December 14, 2019

It’s no wonder that the Lakers are one of only two teams in the NBA that rank in the top-5 of both offense and defense in the NBA.

Pacers Getting it Done Without Oladipo

In years past, an 18-9 mark in the East would usually mean at least a top-four seed. But the conference has gotten tougher, so kudos to Nate McMillan for putting together a stellar first third of a season that has them rock steady in sixth, without their franchise player Victor Oladipo. He’s yet to suit up this season as he recovers from a ruptured quad tendon, and there’s still no definitive timeline for his return.

Vic on the undisputed today. Making sure the national media speak about the Pacers 😬 pic.twitter.com/OjHJSCt8S5

— The Paceroos Podcast (@thepaceroos) December 13, 2019

The real blessing was free agent acquisition Malcolm Brogdon being able to step in and punch up a class from his secondary role, to lead the team in both scoring (19.3 points) and assists (7.7). The Pacers feature five players scoring in double figures, and two others, Doug McDermott and Aaron Holiday, are just under 10 points a game.

Malcolm Brogdon's (18.8 PPG) BEST PLAYS of the season before the @Pacers seek their 6th consecutive W tonight!

🆚: IND / PHI
⏰: 7pm/et
📺: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/Gmg2gm1EkE

— NBA (@NBA) November 30, 2019

The scoring-by-committee Pacers have reeled off three wins in a row and 11 of their last 14, and they’ve been grinding it out with a hard-nosed defensive style. Indiana holds teams to 104.3 points a night (fifth in the NBA), while also limiting teams to 43.5% shooting from the field, also fifth ranked.

It remains to be seen how they hold up against the Lakers, who lead the NBA in field goal percentage at 48.5%, on the strength of averaging 53.1 points in the paint on a nightly basis, which ranks third in the NBA.

What’s the Best Bet?

Davis appeared on the injury report as he’s been battling a sore ankle, so be sure to check the lineup reports before placing a wager. Assuming he does suit up, the Lakers’ real strength is their ability to shut it down against an Indiana offense that ranks sixth in field goal percentage (46.9%) and tied with the Lakers in 10th in three-point shooting percentage at 36.1%.

Anthony Davis, who turned his right ankle late in Sunday’s win over Atlanta, is “trying to play” in Tuesday’s game in IND, a league source tells ESPN. He’s approaching his treatment with the goal of being in the lineup as the Lakers try for their 15th straight road win.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 16, 2019

On the season, LA holds their opponent to 43.4% from the field and 33.3% from deep. Expect the defense to hold its ground, enough for James, Davis and the requisite hot shooter(s) on the perimeter to make the winning plays. However, it is the fourth game of this road trip, and the Lakers have a date with Giannis to look forward to. LA has also failed to win by double digits in any of their previous three games, and the trend continues here.

The pick: Pacers +4 (-112)