NBA: Indiana Pacers VS Phoenix Suns Pick and Predictions 01/21/2023

Game: 9:10 PM ET,  Saturday, January 21st, 2023

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona

TV:  NBA League Pass

Pacers: 23-23, 9th place Eastern Conference

Suns: 22-24, 11th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Suns -5.5, O/U 229.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Suns -5.5, O/U 229

Fanduel: Point Spread: Suns -5, O/U 229.5

Pacers: PF Bennedict Mathurin, SF Buddy Hield, C Myles Turner, PG Andrew Nembhard, SG Aaron Nesmith

Suns: PF Torrey Craig, SF Dario Saric, C Deandre Ayton, SG Damion Lee, PG Mikal Bridges

An NBA inter conference battle between two teams that are going nowhere this season, but still fun to watch.  The Indiana Pacers were thought to be heavily in the hunt for the #1 pick of the NBA Draft Lottery after they traded nig man and best player C/PF Domantas Sabonis last season.  However what they got back in the trade was PG Tyrese Haliburton who turned out to be a franchise best player himself.. So this season instead of being terrible they are hovering at .500. They are hit or miss on most nights with both wins and losses.  It also didn’t help the pursuit of the #1 pick that the team HIT on BOTH of last draft’s picks.  SG Ben Mathurin is the real deal and should be considered the #2 choice for ROY even though I prefer him over the kid in Orlando because he is doing it as a sixth man.  The Pacers also hit on SG/PG Andrew Nembhard out of Gonzaga with their early 2nd round pick.  All three of the aforementioned guards can play and are the team’s future. That is also the problem.  Now the team has 7 shooting guards and 2 points guards and no actual small forwards.  The small forward position is being manned by Buddy Hield who is really a shooting guard. The team also has no real choice at Power Forward… That stinks considering they need power forwards to make a lack of small forward work. This coming draft the Pacers have 3 later picks in the first round… and absolutely no NEED to get any younger.  Let’s go to the trade deadline!  The Phoenix Suns are the same team that contended in the Western Conference last season but they have suffered a giant rash of injuries to very very important players… like SG Devin Booker, PG Chris Paul, Both of the Camerons… Oh and also Center Deandre Ayton hates the front office for dragging their feet on his Max extension and the front office hates him for not being better on the floor. The Suns are in a bad place… A Tijuana Hangover type of place.  The Suns could rapidly improve with health… but we will have to wait a long time for Devin… and by then it may be too late.  The great betting opportunity here is in a coin flip over which up and down yo yo of a team will have the better night and why?

The Indiana Pacers have won only 4 of their last 10 games.  Sadly PG Tyrese Haliburton has been on the shelf with a knee contusion and will be there for another week or two.  That is the sort of injury that could derail what has been a fun season. They are on a 4-game losing streak.  They last lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-106.  They could survive the Haliburton injury better if they were now not forced to play 2 shooting guards at the forward spots. 4 6’5 shooting guards surrounding 7-footer Myle Turner who publicly asked for the Lakers to “come get him” this season. Not exactly the formula for winning games. In the loss PG (rookie) Andrew Nembhard got 18 points, PF Ben Mathurin (rookie SG playing out of position) got 13 points… and C Myles Turner was the worst player on the floor for both squads… in what was clearly a double-bird to the front office.  Myles wants out.  He should be sent with Chris Duarte, TJ McConell and all three draft picks this year into a big 3-4 team trade that brings back forwards and Centers to play with these wonderful young guards.

The Phoenix Suns have only won 2 of their last 10 games.  They did however win their last game which was against the Brooklyn Nets. In that win, without SG Devin Booker, or PG Chris Paul or SG/PG Cameron Payne… the Suns got 28 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists from SF Mikal Bridges who was playing out of position at the PG spot.  Mikal is the real deal and should be recognized by NBA fans more than he is.  Ayton came through with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists.  The Pacers first call should be to the Suns for Ayton and Bridges in exchange for 3 picks, Duarte, Turner, Hield, McConnell, and a hearty thank you!  

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IND: 23-23, 26-20 ATS, 22-23-1 O/U, 8-14 in road games.

PHO: 22-24, 23-23 ATS, 22-24 O/U, 15-7 on home games.

The Pacers are 12th in scoring with 115.3 points per game, 23rd in rebounds with 42.3 per game, 18th in AST/TO ratio with 1.7, and 3rd in blocks with 6.0.

The Suns are 19th in scoring with 112.7 points per game, 15th in rebounds with 43.2 per game, 5th in AST/TO ratio with 1.9, and 13th in blocked shots per game with 4.9.

Our prediction for Saturday, January 21st is…. Pacers 114 - Suns 108

Bet on the Pacers.  Myles Turner does not want to have back to back terrible games as the trade deadline approaches rapidly. The Suns are still working out the kinks even if they get one or two players back from the Injury List.

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Indiana is 2-0 ATS versus the Suns the last 3 seasons.
The Pacers are 10-3 ATS when playing their second road game in 2 days the last 3 seasons.
The Suns are 34-10 ATS as a home favorite of 6 or less points the last 3 seasons.

Pacers: SG Ben Mathurin.  Although he will be playing out of position for his 6’5 frame.  Watch how good this rookie is at all facets of basketball. He is the ROY when you actually look at his minutes and responsibilities.  The league will give the award to a rookie who is on a last place team and has all the minutes and none of the responsibilities.

Suns: SF Mikal Bridges.  Wherever they end up playing him this guy is basketball gold.  He is best suited to be the #3 option on a Championship team.  He just needs a team that is willing to build some champions.

Pacers: Rick “I’m still in the league” Carlisle

Suns: Monty “all class” Williams