The Indiana Pacers (14-12) travel to face off against the Memphis Grizzlies (7-19) on Thursday, December 21st. This game will be played at FedExForum. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Pacers vs Grizzlies

The Pacers Are Coming Off A Win

The Pacers took down the Hornets in their most recent game with a final score of 144-113. the Pacers not only secured a victory straight-up but also did so while covering the spread as -10-point favorites. Before the game, the over/under line was 246 points, and both teams ended up surpassing that mark.

In their last five games, the Pacers are 1-4 and have an overall record of 14-12. Currently, they are ranked 8th in the Eastern Conference and are 3rd in the Central division.

Indiana has an ATS record above .500, currently standing at 14-12 against the spread. Indiana has failed to cover the spread in three straight road games and are 6-6 ATS on the road compared to 8-6 at home.

The Grizzlies Are Coming Off A Win

Most recently, the Grizzlies bested the Pelicans with a score of 115-113. The Grizzlies entered the game as the underdogs by +8.5, resulting in both a straight-up and ATS win. In terms of the over/under, the combined 228 points was below the over/under line of 229.5.

With today’s game against the Pacers, the Grizzlies are 7-19 this year and are looking to get back to .500. In the Western Conference, the Grizzlies are 13th and are 4th in the Southwest division.

Memphis arrives with an ATS record of 10-16 for the season up to this point. In their last three home games, Memphis has been unable to cover the spread, and they maintain an ATS record of 3-9 at home compared to 7-7 on the road.

Pacers Offense Breakdown

The Pacers step onto the court for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring squads, putting up 128 points per game (1st). The Pacers come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 14.3 made 3’s per game. One thing that could take the team’s offense to the next level is if they can begin to generate more opportunites at the free-throw line. So far, they are averaging just 17.7 made free-throws per game.

Grizzlies Offense Breakdown

The Grizzlies come into today’s game as the 30th ranked scoring offense at 106 points per game. When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Grizzlies are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 98.8 per contest. A key aspect of the team’s offensive struggles is the fact that they not only play at a slow pace, but they struggle to score inside. Heading into today’s game, Memphis is just 30th in shots made inside the arc.

Pacers Team Defense

So far, the Pacers’ defense is ranked 29 in the league at 126.5 points per contest.

In the terms of takeaways, Pacers are causing 12.5 turnovers per game, ranking 10th in the league. They also enter the matchup ranked 3rd in rejections, averaging 6.4 blocked shots each game.

Grizzlies Team Defense

At present, the Grizzlies’ defense is ranked 11, allowing 112.5 points per game.

The Memphis defense has allowed opponents to shoot 39.2% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 46.0% of their field goal attempts vs. Memphis.

Key Players For The Pacers And Grizzlies

Our game forecasts for today suggest that Tyrese Haliburton is set to be the main scorer for the Pacers, recording 17 points and shooting 6/11 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 24.7 points per game, along with 4 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Desmond Bane as the leading scorer for the Grizzlies. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 15 while also collecting 3 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 46.5%, and he is contributing 24.4 points per game on average.

Pacers vs Grizzlies Trends

• Across the Pacers last ten road games, the team averaged 130 points per game while allowing 133. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 5-5, while going 5-5 straight-up.
• Although Memphis has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 105 points per game in these games.
• Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Pacers have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.
• Through their last three games as the favorite, the Grizzlies have an ATS record of 3-0 and a straight up mark of 3-0.

 

Pacers vs Grizzlies Prediction

 

Coming in as the underdogs at +5, we have the Pacers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 247, and our model predicts the Pacers and Grizzlies to score a combined 214 points. We recommend betting on the under.

---

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

---

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.