NBA , Picks & Predictions: Back Pacers, Warriors At Home

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The Brooklyn Nets are on the longest winning streak in the NBA this season at 11 in a row and are near locks to make it 12 straight on Monday vs. a bad San Antonio team. That spread is simply too big for us, however, so here are two more games that we recommend for your NBA Bets.

Toronto at Indiana (-1)

The Pacers enter playing some of their best basketball of the season, winning a third straight game on Saturday, 131-130 over the LA Clippers. Tyrese Haliburton had 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Indiana’s 22-year-old point guard scored 13 of the Pacers’ final 15 points down the stretch. It was his fifth double-double in December and Haliburton he leads the league with 10.2 assists per game.

Myles Turner had 34 points, eclipsing the 30-point mark for the first time since November. Turner, often mentioned in trade rumors, is having a fantastic year overall, averaging career highs in points (16.7), rebounds (7.8) and field-goal percentage (54.8). Buddy Hield, the NBA leader in 3-pointers made this season, made five 3-pointers for the third straight game and the fifth time in his last seven contests.

The Pacers, who have won five of their last six games — with the only loss coming to the Western Conference-leading New Orleans Pelicans — sit sixth in the Eastern Conference. Each of the last three games, the Pacers have scored at least 129 points. During that stretch, they shot an outstanding 53.2 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from 3-point range.

The Raptors are likely glad it’s 2023 as they were an ugly 5-10 in December. Toronto has struggled on the road this year, with a record of 5-12, while the Pacers have a 12-7 record when playing at home.

Toronto does come off a 113-104 win over Phoenix on Friday. Gary Trent Jr. put up 35 points to lead the Raptors. Trent started his first game since Dec. 14, and he rewarded Coach Nick Nurse by matching a season-high scoring total. Trent Jr. has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games, hitting 11 three-pointers in that span.

Pascal Siakam finished with 26 points, six assists and two rebounds. It was his seventh consecutive game with 25-or-more points, tying him with Chris Bosh (Oct. 30 – Nov. 11, 2009) for the second longest streak in franchise history. Vince Carter (eight games; Feb. 27 – Mar. 11, 2001) holds the franchise record. Siakam is averaging 32.9 points and shooting .500 (77-154) during the seven-game stretch. Siakam is averaging career highs of 26.5 points and 6.7 assists on the season. He is one of just two players in the Eastern Conference and one of five players in the NBA to average 25+ points, 8+ rebounds.

Toronto has played the past two games without former All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet and he’s questionable tonight. Trent would start again if VanVleet can’t go.

Atlanta at Golden State (-2.5)

This is the fifth contest of an eight-game homestand for the Warriors, the team’s longest of the season. Golden State has the NBA’s highest winning percentage at home (.889). This is the fifth season under Steve Kerr that the Warriors have a .889 winning percentage or higher after 18 home games.

The defending NBA champions remain without All-Stars Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins yet they are still the pick at home because they are so good there yet often looking like the NBA’s worst team on the road. The last time a team simultaneously had the league’s best home record and worst road mark more than 15 games into the season was in 1976-77, when the SuperSonics won their first 13 games in Seattle while opening 2-12 elsewhere.

At Chase Center, Warriors opponents are making 29% of their 3-point attempts — the league’s lowest mark by a wide margin. No other team sees opponents hit less than 32% of their 3s at home. Yet Golden State opponents make 41% of 3-point attempts when the Warriors visit, second only to the San Antonio Spurs. Overall, the Warriors lead the NBA in assists per game (29.2 apg) and have done so in six of the previous eight.

Golden State has a 36-41 overall record, including 27-16 at home, in the first game of a calendar year. Golden State has won seven of the last 10 such games.

The Hawks enter on a three-game skid and are terrible defensively. Center Clint Capela, an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker, will miss a fourth straight game Monday. Forward DeAndre Hunter has missed the last three games while battling a sprained left ankle but might make it back.

The Hawks are 4-1 in their last five outings versus the Warriors, which includes a 121-110 victory in their most recent contest on 3/25/22 at home. A win tonight would mark the franchise’s 35th victory to begin a new calendar year, including the 16th road victory (34-40 overall record in first game of the calendar year). The Hawks’ 34 wins to begin a new year are tied for the eighth-most in NBA history.