Indiana to keep up the pace
The Indiana Pacers have surged up the Eastern Conference standings in recent weeks and their impressive run looks set to continue, when they welcome Cleveland to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Indiana to make it a perfect eight (December 19th, 00:00)
Nate McMillan’s men defeated the Knicks 110-99 last time out to extend their winning streak to seven matches, lifting the team into contention for the EC title.
Indiana (1.08 Moneyline Full time) have an impressive 11-4 home record this season and Victor Oladipo will be hoping to continue his fine run of form, with the shooting guard averaging 20.8 points per game.
It has been a campaign to forget for Cleveland (7.00) so far and they head into the game on the back of successive defeats to the Bucks and the 76ers.
The Cavaliers have a dreadful 2-11 away record and it will take a monumental improvement to see the visitors’ record their first win on the road since December 4.
Lakers to suffer Brooklyn misery (December 19th, 00:30am)
The Lakers have been inconsistent over recent weeks and they head into the clash at the Barclays Center off the back of a 128-110 loss to the Wizards.
LeBron James (Total Points – Under 27.5 – 1.95) put in an unusually poor performance in that game and there are suggestions the four-time NBA MVP is feeling the strain of carrying his team on his shoulders.
LA has lost two of their last three matches on the road and they will find it hard to get the better of a Nets side that are on a terrific run at the moment.
Brooklyn (2.10 to win) have won their last five matches – beating the Hawks, Wizards, 76ers, Knicks and Raptors – with three of those victories coming on home soil.
Kenny Atkinson’s men are slowly climbing up the Western Conference with the impressive results and should continue their rise up the standings with a win over the Lakers.
Bucks to down sorry Pelicans (December 20, 01:00am)
Milwaukee have been a force to be reckon with at the Fiserv Forum this season and they should have enough to down a Pelicans side that have struggled on their travels.
The Bucks, who are eyeing the Eastern Conference title (6.50), boast an impressive 13-3 home record and they have won four of their last five matches in their own backyard.
New Orleans are down in the doldrums in the Western section and they have lost 11 of their 15 away matches so far, highlighting their troubles on the road.
The Pelicans (67.00 NBA Winner Outright) also suffered a stinging 113-110 defeat to the Boston Celtics in their last fixture on the road and it will be extremely difficult to get the better of an in-form Bucks outfit on Thursday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored an impressive 44 points in Milwaukee’s win over Cleveland recently and it would be no surprise to see him lead the scoring charts again, with the Greek averaging 26.6 points per game this season.
