Brooklyn Nets vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions December 4th 2024

Brooklyn Nets vs Indiana Pacers December 4th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the 9-13 Indiana Pacers (-133) will take on the 9-13 Brooklyn Nets (+112) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Pacers are currently favored by 2 points, and the over/under line is set at 227.5.

This Eastern Conference matchup will be televised on YES.

Pacers vs. Nets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets
• Where: Brooklyn at Barclays Center
• Date: Wednesday, December 4th
• Betting Odds IND -2, IND -133 | BKN +112 O/U 227.5

The Pacers Can Win If…

Indiana’s season record fell to 9-13 after a 122-111 road loss to the Raptors on Tuesday. The Pacers, who were favored by 2.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 233 fell just short of the 236.5 O/U line.

A 12-0 run by Toronto early on put Indiana in a deep hole, as the Raptors extended their lead from 31-23 to 43-23. The Pacers fought back, winning the 3rd quarter 36-28, but couldn’t close the gap in the 4th, where they were outscored 29-27.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 30 points and 6 assists in their 122-111 loss to the Raptors, shooting 62.5% from the field and hitting 4 threes at 44.4%. Myles Turner also connected on 4 threes, shooting 66.7% from deep and finishing with 16 points.

The Pacers hit 12 threes at a 40% clip, but their overall field goal percentage was just 45.2%. T.J. McConnell scored 12 of his 14 points in the 4th quarter, while Haliburton added 12 points in the 3rd.

The Pacers struggled defensively against the Raptors, giving up 122 points on 54% shooting from the field. Indiana allowed 31 points in the 1st quarter and 34 in the 2nd, before tightening up slightly in the 3rd and 4th, where they gave up 28 and 29 points, respectively.

From beyond the arc, the Pacers allowed Toronto to hit 13 threes at a 39% clip. Indiana also sent the Raptors to the line 29 times, where they converted 21 free throws. The Pacers recorded 8 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

• When looking at their past five road matchups, Indiana has an ATS record of 0-5 while averaging 116 per game. The team went 0-5 overall in these games.
• Over the team’s last five games as the favorite, the Pacers struggled vs the spread going just 0-4-1. However, they still had a straight up mark of 3-2.
• Over their last three games, the Pacers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Nets Can Win If…

The Nets fell to 9-13 on the season after a 128-102 road loss to the Bulls on Monday. Brooklyn, who entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 230, just under the O/U line of 231.5.

After an even 1st quarter (29-29), the Bulls went on a decisive 13-0 run, stretching the score from 42-39 to 52-42. Brooklyn couldn’t recover, as they were outscored 27-21 in the 2nd quarter and 36-22 in the 3rd. The Nets entered the 4th down 92-72 and were outscored 36-30 in the final period.

The Nets struggled offensively in their loss to the Bulls, shooting just 40% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. They made 14 threes in the game, with Dariq Whitehead hitting 6 of them at a 60% clip, finishing with a team-high 18 points.

Dennis Schröder added 16 points and 10 assists, while Tyrese Martin contributed 15 points, including 7 in the 4th quarter. Whitehead also scored 9 points in the final period, and Shake Milton added 8 of his 14 points in the 2nd quarter.

The Nets struggled defensively against the Bulls, giving up 128 points on 52% shooting. Brooklyn allowed 36 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters, contributing to the loss.

From beyond the arc, the Nets held the Bulls to 34% shooting, with Chicago making 16 threes. Brooklyn also sent the Bulls to the line 19 times, where they hit 16 free throws.

• The Nets are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
• Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Nets have gone 2-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
• In their last five games, the Nets have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For today’s matchup we are recommending to take the Pacers to secure the win, with an expected final score of 117-85. When it comes to the spread, we believe they’ll cover at -2.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 227.5, and our model projects the Pacers and Nets to reach a combined total of 202 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

NBA Picks & Predictions from The Best Expert Handicappers

Pacers Look to End Road Struggles Against Injury-Plagued Nets

The Indiana Pacers are facing a pivotal moment as they bring their road woes to Brooklyn, hoping to snap a seven-game losing streak away from home. Their challenge grows tougher against a Brooklyn Nets team eager to rebound from their own struggles, compounded by significant injuries to key players.

Indiana Pacers: Searching for Stability on the Road

The Pacers’ road form has been abysmal this season, with a 2-10 record that stands in stark contrast to their 21-20 away record last season. Their last road victory came on November 4, a 134-127 win against the Dallas Mavericks. Since then, Indiana has endured a streak of seven consecutive away losses, with an average losing margin of 12.9 points.

Recent performances highlight a troubling inconsistency:

• Loss to Toronto Raptors: In their most recent game, a 122-111 defeat, the Pacers trailed by as many as 24 points. Plagued by 21 turnovers—14 of them in the first half—they struggled to find momentum.
• Loss to Memphis Grizzlies: Just two days earlier, Indiana squandered a 19-point first-half lead, eventually losing by 15 points.

Head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t mince words, calling for greater accountability and intensity. “A lack of force, a lack of overall force led to a lack of leverage,” Carlisle said. “We own the first half. We’ve had too many stretches like that. We all own it, and we need to fix it.”

Key Player Spotlight: Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton’s road performances reflect the team’s broader struggles. While he scored an impressive 30 points against Toronto, he managed just 8 against Memphis. The Pacers need more consistency from their star guard to break out of this slump.

Brooklyn Nets: Battling Injuries and Inconsistency

The Nets enter Wednesday’s game on their own rough patch, with three consecutive losses. They are also grappling with a series of injuries that have significantly impacted their rotations:

• Key Players Missing: Leading scorer Cam Thomas is sidelined with a strained hamstring, and starters Dorian Finney-Smith, Cameron Johnson, and Ben Simmons are questionable with various injuries.
• Impact of Injuries: The absence of key players was evident in their 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls, their most lopsided defeat of the season. Inconsistent shooting (40% field goal percentage) and poor rebounding (outrebounded 54-41) have been recurring issues.

Emerging Talent
Injuries have given opportunities to young players like Dariq Whitehead, who scored a career-high 18 points against Chicago. Tyrese Martin and Shake Milton have also stepped up, with notable scoring contributions in recent games. However, Brooklyn’s lack of cohesion remains a glaring issue, especially on defense, where they conceded 62 points in the paint against Chicago.

The Matchup: Opportunity for Redemption

Both teams are under pressure to turn their seasons around:

• For the Pacers: A win against a short-handed Brooklyn team could be the spark they need to regain confidence on the road.
• For the Nets: Despite their injuries, the Nets have a chance to leverage their home-court advantage and halt their losing streak.

Brooklyn’s head coach Jordi Fernandez expressed frustration with his team’s recent performances but emphasized the need for better competitiveness and communication: “Our defense was extremely bad. Our players know that our ball pressure has to be better, our competitiveness, our communication.”

Key Factors to Watch

1. Haliburton’s Performance: Can Haliburton replicate his strong outing against Toronto and lead the Pacers to a road win?
2. Nets’ Rotations: Will Brooklyn’s young players continue to step up in the absence of their injured stars?
3. Defensive Intensity: Both teams have struggled defensively. The team that tightens up on this end could have the upper hand.

Final Thoughts

The Pacers’ road struggles and the Nets’ injury woes create a fascinating dynamic for Wednesday’s matchup. Both teams have something to prove, and while the Pacers aim to snap their losing streak, the Nets are determined to stay competitive despite their depleted roster.

Whether it’s the Pacers finding consistency or the Nets overcoming adversity, this game presents an opportunity for one team to start building momentum.