Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
Following a heartbreaking last-second loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (119:120), the Indiana Pacers quickly hit the road and head to Washington to face the Wizards. With the Eastern Conference standings still tight, they can’t afford any slip-ups — expect a focused performance from the favourites.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards snapped a five-game losing streak last night, but they beat a depleted Philadelphia 76ers team (119:114), which can hardly be called a difficult task. However, something tells us that few in the Wizards’ management were pleased with this result, as they have now tied the Utah Jazz in wins, which is not the most welcome news in the context of the fight for the top pick in the draft.
Indiana Pacers
Rick Carlisle has clearly shifted gears toward tightening the defence — a logical move with the playoffs on the horizon. That intent shows both in their performances and the numbers. Over the last five games, the Pacers have averaged just 85.4 field goal attempts per game, down from 88.8 on the season. Their scoring has dipped too: only 113.8 points per game across the last 10, compared to their season average of 116.6. Worth noting as well — the Pacers have failed to hit the 123-point mark in 13 of their last 15 games, something that used to be routine for them.
Washington Wizards vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
These sides have met twice this season, and on both occasions, the Indiana Pacers failed to break the 120-point barrier. They’re on a back-to-back, have slowed down offensively, and now face a Wizards side who, draft strategy aside, can still put up some resistance. We’d suggest going with the individual total under.
