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Pacers vs Jazz Odds and Picks

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 15, 2021 · 8:41 PM PDT

Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert reach for ball
Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz host the Indiana Pacers Friday afternoon. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire)
  • Indiana Pacers take four-game road winning streak into Utah to take on the Jazz
  • Utah is just 3-3 in their last six, but coming off a win against OKC
  • Get the latest Jazz vs Pacers odds, betting preview and a pick below

The Indiana Pacers are starting to find their groove. The Utah Jazz, dominant almost all season, are searching for theirs.

The two teams collide in a Friday midday affair at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Pacers are coming off a win over the Rockets, giving them four straight road W’s. The Jazz, meanwhile, have been middling at 3-3 in their last six.

But at 41-14 they’re still the top team in the NBA, and an overwhelming 9.5-point favorite in this one.

Pacers vs Jazz Odds

Team Spread at FanDuel Moneyline Total
Indiana Pacers +9.5 (-110) +360 Ov 235 (-110)
Utah Jazz -9.5 (-110) -460 Un 235 (-110)

Odds as of April 15. Tip-off is Friday at 3pm ET

Jazz Play Many Tunes

One of the strengths of this Utah team is how deep they run. On Wednesday night against the Thunder, they were without the services of Sixth Man of the Year favorite Jordan Clarkson (ankle), wing Royce O’Neal (rest) and Joe Ingles (knee) and still found a way to climb out of an early 17-point hole for the eventual win.

Donovan Mitchell had 22 points, while Rudy Gobert had 13 points and 14 boards, but they got a real shot in the arm from Bojan Bogdanovic, who led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds. Another fill-in starter, Georges Niang, added 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Perhaps that awakens this unit, who have looked out of tune as of late, beginning with a loss to the Mavericks that ended their 9-game winning streak. They also lost a showdown with the Suns, and stumbled in a surprising home loss to the lowly Wizards, just their third home loss of the year.

Still, there are lot of things going well. Utah is the only team in the NBA that ranks top-5 in both offensive and defensive rating. Even if they aren’t full strength Friday, it shouldn’t be an issue.

LeVert a Scoring Expert

This is the Caris LeVert the Indiana Pacers were hoping for when they jumped into the fray of the James Harden sweepstakes, eventually dealing Victor Oladipo to get him.

It was a rough start coming back from a mass on his kidney that had him on the shelf in Brooklyn. In his first 11 games as a Pacer, he cracked the 20-point plateau just once.

But it’s all systems go now, as he has topped 20 points in three straight and five of the last seven. LeVert has gone for 22.3 points, 4.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in April. He’s been the needed elixir to take that must-deliver pressure of both Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis.

That’s coincided with the Pacers’ strong recent play, where they’re won five of seven, including four straight on the road. In four of the last seven games, they’ve exploded for 130+ points, shooting better than 52% in each.

They’re now ninth in the East, but four games clear of the 10th-place Bulls, and are within just two games of the 6th-place New York Knicks.

What’s the Best Bet?

It is hard to win in Utah, full stop. The Jazz are an NBA-best 25-3 at home, and they have destroyed Eastern Conference competition, racking up a 22-6 mark while running an impressive 18-5 mark against sub-.500 teams (the Pacers are 26-28).

The Pacers’ new found offensive flow — they’ve gone OVER in five of the last seven games — is going to be put to the test in this one. I’d feel more comfortable if I knew Myles Turner was playing, but he’s questionable with an ankle injury.

Still, I feel like Indy is catching Utah at the right time. Not for a win, but to climb inside that point spread.

The pick: Pacers +9.5 (-110)


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