Inter-conference bottom-feeders meet for the second time this season on Friday night, as the Indiana Pacers host the New Orleans Pelicans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pelicans (10–33, 15th West) have won two of their last four games and are coming off Wednesday’s home victory against the Nets — though they’d previously dropped nine straight.
Likewise, the Pacers (9–32, 15th East) have won three of their last four but are looking to rebound from a double-digit loss to the Raptors at home on Wednesday night. They preceded their recent hot streak with a 13-game skid, including a 19-point beatdown in New Orleans on Dec. 20.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
New Orleans Pelicans
- Out: Jose Alvarado (Oblique), Herbert Jones (Ankle), Dejounte Murray (Achilles)
Indiana Pacers
- Out: Bennedict Mathurin (Thumb), Isaiah Jackson (Concussion), Obi Toppin (Foot), Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Indiana enters as a 3.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while New Orleans sits as a +142 underdog. The game’s total is set at 240.5 points.
Pacers vs. Pelicans Preview
New Orleans Pelicans Preview
New Orleans will attempt to record back-to-back wins for the first time since its impromptu five-game heater in mid-December, a stretch that included a 19-point rout of the Pacers at home. While the Pelicans continue to sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, they’ve slowly picked up steam and punctuated their recent homestand with a win — albeit against the Nets.
The Pelicans enter Friday night with two wins in their last four games, owning the NBA’s eighth-best offense during that span. Former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson has remained dominant when healthy, and Trey Murphy III is enjoying perhaps the best stretch of his career — averaging 31.7 points per game after New Year’s, including a career-high 42-point explosion against the Lakers.
Indiana Pacers Preview
In a similar vein, the Pacers have quietly accrued some momentum and head into Friday’s contest with three wins in their last four games.
Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard continue to drag Indiana’s offense like a piano without wheels, unable to save a team that ranks dead last in offensive rating and field-goal percentage. However, the Pacers have kicked it into high gear on the other end.
The Pacers boast the NBA’s third-best defensive rating over their last four games, anchored by Siakam and seven-footer Jay Huff, whose 2.1 blocks per game rank third in the league. During its hot streak, Indiana held the Celtics and Heat under 100 points apiece.
Pelicans vs. Pacers Pick, Best Bet
Indiana’s reawakened defense should put a lid on Williamson and Murphy, though its own offense doesn’t seem capable of capitalizing. The Pacers and Pelicans have fallen below the 240.5-point total in seven of the combined eight games during their respective hot streaks — and they combined for just 237 on Dec. 20. Expect a low-scoring affair on Friday night.
