Pacers vs Raptors - NBA Picks Experts Predictions for 3/22

© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pacers vs Raptors - NBA Game Preview - March 22, 2023

The Indiana Pacers will be heading to Toronto to take on the Raptors in what promises to be a thrilling matchup on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Both teams will be hoping to secure a win to boost their chances of making the playoffs, making this game crucial for both teams. The Raptors come into the game with a seven-game home win streak, while the Pacers will be looking to continue their impressive recent form. NBA picks experts, NBA picks computer predictions, and NBA picks em predictions all suggest that this game could go either way, making it a must-watch for basketball fans around the world. Both teams have struggled for consistency this season, but the Pacers have the slight edge in head-to-head matchups this season. They defeated the Raptors 122-114 in their last meeting on January 3rd, with Bennedict Mathurin leading the Pacers with 21 points. However, the Raptors will be keen to avenge that defeat and will be looking to their star players, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, to lead the way. NBA today experts believe that this game could be decided by the battle between the Pacers' shooting and the Raptors' defense. The Pacers rank fifth in the Eastern Conference for shooting 36.5% from 3-point range. Still, they will face a tough test against the Raptors' defense, which is ranked sixth-best in the NBA for points allowed per game. On the other hand, the Raptors will be looking to their fast breakpoints, led by OG Anunoby, to break down the Pacers' defense. For fans looking to place bets on this game, the best NBA bets today are likely to be NBA picks with spread bets. Both teams have been close in recent games, and NBA picks odds suggest that this game will be similarly close, making spread bets the best option for those looking to get the most value from their bets. Overall, this game promises to be an exciting matchup between two evenly matched teams. Both the Pacers and the Raptors will be hoping to secure a win to boost their playoff chances, making this game unmissable for basketball fans around the world.

Pacers: Offensive Analysis

For the Indiana Pacers, their offense has been consistently mediocre throughout the season. They rank 12th in the Eastern Conference in terms of points per game, averaging just 115.8. Their shooting efficiency is also average, ranking 14th in the conference with a 46.6% shooting percentage. However, one area where the Pacers excel is their ability to score in transition. They lead the conference with 18.6 fast break points per game, which could prove to be a challenge for the Raptors' defense. The Pacers also have a reliable three-point shooting game, shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks 12th in the conference. Buddy Hield has been their most consistent scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. In terms of assists, the Pacers rank 6th in the conference with 26.8 per game, but their turnover rate is concerning, ranking 23rd in the conference with 14.8 turnovers per game. Overall, the Pacers offense lacks a true star player or standout performance, which may put them at a disadvantage against the Raptors with their solid defense. Indiana will need to utilize their strengths in transition and three-point shooting to keep pace with Toronto's offense. When making your NBA picks and predictions, keep in mind that the Pacers may struggle against the Raptors' defense, but their speed and shooting abilities could challenge Toronto's defense.

Pacers: Defensive Analysis

When it comes to defensive prowess, the Indiana Pacers have been a mixed bag this season. Their defense is ranked 27th in the league, allowing opponents to score an average of 118.3 points per game. However, in their last 10 games, they have improved, allowing only 123.7 points per game. Despite their struggles, the Pacers have shown some flashes of brilliance on defense. They lead the league with an average of 5.9 blocks per game, and their block percentage of 6.7% ranks second in the NBA. They also average 7.8 steals per game, which is good for eighth in the league. In order to halt the Toronto Raptors' offense, the Pacers will need to step up their defensive game. The Raptors are ranked 21st in the NBA in points per game, but they have weapons like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet that can light up the scoreboard on any given night. The Pacers should look to utilize their shot blocking abilities to disrupt the Raptors' offensive flow. They should aim to play tough perimeter defense to prevent open looks from beyond the arc, where the Raptors have struggled this season. Overall, the Pacers' defense will need to be sharp to come away with a win against the Raptors. If they can step up their defensive game, they have a good chance of limiting the Raptors' scoring and securing the victory.

Raptors: Offense Analysis

The Toronto Raptors have had a mediocre season this year, with a 35-37 record, placing them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. However, they have been able to maintain a seven-game winning streak at home, which they will try to continue when they face the Indiana Pacers on March 22, 2023. The Raptors' offense has been inconsistent throughout the season, ranking 21st in the league with an average of 112.9 points per game. Despite their struggles, Toronto is second in the league in fast break points per game, averaging 17.5 points, led by OG Anunoby's average of 3.8. However, their effectiveness in half-court sets has been a major concern. Their performances in the last ten games have been slightly better, with an average of 113.9 points per game, shooting 47.4% from the field. However, their opponents have been able to score an average of 112.0 points per game, indicating that their defense has been susceptible. The Raptors have some talented individuals in their roster, with Pascal Siakam leading the team in scoring, averaging 24.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and six assists per game. Fred VanVleet has also stepped up his game in the last ten games, averaging 19.0 points. Some NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions indicate that the Raptors may struggle offensively against the Pacers, who have a better effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage than them. The Raptors will have to rely on their fast break points to make up for their struggles in half-court sets. Overall, the Raptors' offense has been inconsistent this season, and they will need to step up against the Pacers to maintain their home win streak. While they have some talented players in their roster, their struggles in half-court sets could be a weakness that the Pacers may exploit. NBA picks and parlay predictions suggest that the game could be close, and the Raptors will need to find ways to score against the Pacers' defense.

Raptors: Defensive Analysis

The Toronto Raptors are heading into their game against the Indiana Pacers with a seven-game home win streak. Their defensive strategy will play a key role in keeping this streak alive. Let's take a closer look at their defensive performance this season. The Raptors have been solid defensively, ranking sixth in the league in points allowed per game at 112.1. They have also allowed the sixth-lowest shooting percentage to their opponents at 49.2%. This shows that the Raptors are capable of shutting down their opponents' offensive game. One of the biggest strengths of the Raptors' defense is their ability to disrupt passing lanes and create turnovers. They lead the league in steals per game with 9.3 and turnover percentage at 14.9%. This is due to their aggressive on-ball defense and quick rotations on help defense. They are also a strong rebounding team with a total rebounding percentage of 50.9%, ranking them 18th in the league. They will need to focus on their defensive rebounding against the Pacers, who are averaging 50.5 total rebounds per game. The Raptors' defense could also use improvement in their three-point defense, as they allow opponents to shoot 37.5% from beyond the arc. However, the Pacers only shoot 36.5% from three-point range, so the Raptors may be able to limit their opponent's success from distance. In conclusion, the Raptors have a strong defensive game plan that has helped them win their last seven home games. They rely on their aggressive on-ball defense, quick rotations, and ability to disrupt passing lanes to create turnovers. Their defensive rebounding could use improvement, but overall their defense should be able to handle the Pacers' offense. NBA picks and experts are favoring the Raptors in this matchup, and their defense may be the key to securing a win.

Injury Report Analysis

When it comes to injuries, both the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors have players listed as out. For the Raptors, Otto Porter Jr. is out for the season with a foot injury, while Dalano Banton is day-to-day with a thumb injury. Meanwhile, the Pacers have three players out, including Tyrese Haliburton with a knee injury, Kendall Brown with a tibia injury, and Chris Duarte with an ankle injury. These injuries could have an impact on the game, especially for the Pacers who are missing some key players. However, both teams have been dealing with injuries all season long and have still managed to be competitive. As such, it's likely that they will both be able to adjust and adapt to any absences and still put up a good fight in this matchup. Ultimately, the injury report doesn't provide a clear advantage for either team, so it's important to consider other factors when making NBA picks or predictions for this game. It will be interesting to see how each team performs and if any injuries become a bigger factor as the game progresses.

Prediction

Both the Pacers and the Raptors have been inconsistent lately. In their last ten games, both teams have gone 5-5, with neither team showing a clear advantage. However, both teams have covered the spread in more than half of those games. Looking at the experts’ picks, it seems that they are favoring the Raptors to win this matchup. The computer-generated NBA picks and EM predictions also give the edge to Toronto. This is likely due to the Raptors’ excellent home record, with seven consecutive wins at Scotiabank Arena. If you are looking for the best NBA bets today, it may be wise to consider betting on the Raptors to cover the spread. They have covered the spread in five of their last ten games, while the Pacers have only covered in four of their last ten. Overall, the betting trends suggest that the Raptors are the safer pick in this matchup. However, with both teams being relatively inconsistent, it could still be anyone’s game. Be sure to keep an eye on any last-minute lineup changes or injuries that could affect the outcome of this matchup. Toronto will continue their dominance at home and secure their eighth consecutive win against Indiana.

Pick: Toronto (-6.5)