The Indiana Pacers (29-21) and Los Angeles Lakers (30-19) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The Pacers are 4-point favorites over the Lakers on the spread (Pacers -4), with the over/under set at 231.5 total points. Indiana is a -180 favorite to win outright, while Los Angeles is +150 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pacers vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, February 8.
Pacers vs. Lakers Picks, Prediction
Spread
My Lakers vs. Pacers best bet is on Indiana to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Moneyline
I do not have a moneyline pick for this matchup. However, I will be betting on the Pacers to win and cover the spread.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in this game.
My Pick: Pacers -4
Pacers vs. Lakers Odds
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -112 | 231.5 -108 / -112 | -170 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -108 | 231.5 -108 / -112 | +142 |
- Pacers vs. Lakers spread: Pacers -4
- Pacers vs. Lakers over/under: 231.5 total points
- Pacers vs. Lakers moneyline: Pacers -180, Lakers +150
- Pacers vs. Lakers best bet: Pacers -4 (-110)
Pacers vs. Lakers Preview
On Thursday night, the Pacers went down by 20 points to the Clippers in the first quarter. However, that did not stop them from rallying to pull off a 119-112 outright victory as 5.5-point underdogs. The Pacers will extend their stay in Southern California as they take on the Lakers this afternoon.
Today's game matches two of the NBA's hottest teams. The Pacers have won 13 of their last 16 games, while the Lakers have 10 of their last 12 games. The Lakers' hot streak heading into the All-Star break comes before they add Luka Doncic, who is a five-time All-NBA First-Team selection.
There was some hope that Doncic would make his Lakers debut today, but the team is targeting Monday night's game against the Jazz instead. Center Mark Williams may make his Lakers debut, but he may have to wait to play with the rest of the Lakers' regular starters.
Austin Reaves is listed as questionable with a left elbow contusion, while LeBron James has been downgraded to doubtful with left ankle soreness. The Pacers will be without Myles Turner themselves. However, since the news of James came out, the spread has swung in the Pacers' direction.
Even without Turner, head coach Rick Carlisle will still have a lot of firepower at his disposal, led by his point guard Tyrese Haliburton. After a scoreless outing against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, I had a feeling that Haliburton would bounce back against the Clippers.
While he was not great, he did have 14 points and eight assists. Haliburton has now recorded eight assists in 34 of 49 games this season, and he is averaging 8.5 per game.
Pascal Siakam fueled Thursday's comeback victory with 33 points and 11 rebounds. Siakam has earned his third All-Star selection this season. He is averaging 20.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season.
Bennedict Mathurin poured in 25 points against the Clippers himself. Averaging 16.4 points per game this season, Mathurin's scoring props have some value today.
Pacers vs. Lakers Prediction
The Over has hit in four of the Lakers' last five games, with at least 220 points in all five games. That would be my preferred bet for this game if James is available. However, with his status in question, along with Reaves and others, I do not see the Lakers staying competitive in this game if they end up playing shorthanded.
However, the Pacers will not have to dominate to cover the spread, as they are favored by 4 points. Of the Pacers' last 13 wins, 12 of them have been by at least four points and 10 have been by double digits. They are also 15-13 against the spread on the road this season.
The Lakers defense is a primary reason why I like the Over and the Pacers in this game. They are 23rd in assists allowed this season, and Haliburton has recorded eight assists in eight of his past nine games against the Lakers. Since joining the Pacers, Siakam has scored 20 points in five of his last seven games against Los Angeles, including games of 36 and 22.
Meanwhile, Mathurin scored double figures in eight of his last 10 games. Without Turner, there should be a few more shots available for him. He has also scored at least 16 points in eight of his last 10 games without Turner.
Best Bet: Pacers -4 (-110)
Same Game Parlay Picks
- Pascal Siakam 20+ Points
- Bennedict Mathurin 15+ Points
- Tyrese Haliburton 8+ Assists
Parlay Payout: +370
Lakers vs. Pacers Betting Trends
