The Indiana Pacers will be the next team to try to stop the red-hot Phoenix Suns as these two teams square off in the desert.
Catch this game live on Sunday, March 14, at 11 AM, Manila time
HOME TEAM: Phoenix Suns (25-11, 12-6 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Devin Booker
- SF: Mikal Bridges
- PF: Jae Crowder
- C: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix is on a roll. The Suns recorded their fifth win in a row by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers last Friday in a shootout on the road, 127-121. The Suns’ offense has been on fire of late. They have scored an average of 117.6 points on 53.2 FG% from the field over that stretch while also making 39.9% of their 3-point attempts.
That kind of shooting could continue against the Pacers, who couldn’t handle Devin Booker and company in Phoenix’s 125-117 win in Indiana way back in January. Booker had 25 points in that game, but it was Mikal Bridges who really exploded, as the Villanova alum went off for 34 points.
The Suns also hit 16 threes to make life harder for Indiana, which will once again see Phoenix’s offense that is third in the NBA in efficiency with 1.185 points per possession. The Suns are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games as the home chalk.
ROAD TEAM: Indiana Pacers (16-20, 9-9 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Malcolm Brogdon
- SG: Justin Holiday
- SF: Doug McDermott
- PF: Domantas Sabonis
- C: Myles Turner
Despite Malcolm Brogdon’s best efforts, the Pacers still picked up a 105-100 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. Indiana has now lost six of seven games, heading into the rematch against Phoenix. Domantas Sabonis had 20 points against the Lakers, but Myles Turner’s presence was barely felt, especially on offense, as he mustered just eight points in 28 minutes.
There’s hope that he can bounce back this Sunday versus the Suns, as he had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks in the first meeting with them. Another encouraging sign for the Pacers is the looming return of Caris LeVert to action.
LeVert is set to make his Pacers debut this Sunday after going under the knife for cancer surgery. In 12 games this season for the Brooklyn Nets, LeVert averaged 18.5 points and 6.0 assists per game. The Over is 6-1 in the Pacers’ last seven road games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread:
The Suns are third in scoring defense and own among the most efficient offenses in the league right now. The Pacers will put up a fight, but the best they can do here is cover the spread, as 6.5-point road underdogs.
Over/Under:
Don’t expect this game to be a sprint. Phoenix likes to grind it out by controlling the pace, while Indiana’s not exactly lighting up the scoreboards of late. This game should go Under 221.0.
Check out the odds below from our sponsor: UBOmoney.
