Thunder vs Pacers NBA Picks Experts: Preview and Prediction

© Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Thunder vs Pacers - NBA Game Preview - March 31, 2023

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are set to face off in Indianapolis on Friday, March 31st, 2023. The Pacers are coming off a four-game losing streak and are looking to turn things around at home, where they have a 19-19 record this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder are sitting at 10th in the Western Conference and have a 15-23 record on the road. As experts and computer NBA picks, predictions, and parlay suggest, this game will likely be a close one with both teams looking to secure a victory. NBA picks today from experts indicate that the Thunder have a slight edge, but the Pacers are known to be a tough team to beat on their home court. Both teams have their fair share of top performers. Tyrese Haliburton is currently averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals for the Pacers while Luguentz Dort is shooting at 39.1% and averaging 13.8 points for the Thunder. Overall, this game is shaping up to be an exciting one for NBA picks with spread and NBA predictions today. Stay tuned for a full-length article on this matchup and the projected final score.

Thunder: Offensive Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Indiana Pacers in a Friday night match-up that promises to be both intense and grueling. In this offensive analysis, we'll take a closer look at the Thunder's performance on the court and what we can expect from the team. The Thunder currently rank 5th in the NBA for points per game with an average of 117.5. This is a promising indicator that the team has a solid offensive strategy that has proven successful in previous games. However, they will need to be at their best to take on the Pacers, who are known for their defensive prowess. Oklahoma City is also 12th in the league for average score margin at +1.1 points per game. This is a good sign that the Thunder have the potential to outscore the Pacers, but they will need to bring their A-game to the court. The Thunder also have a strong presence on the fast break, averaging 14.6 points per game, which ranks them at 12th in the NBA. This is an area where they can potentially find success against the Pacers, who are only 20th in the league for fast break points allowed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the Thunder's leading scorer, averaging 24.4 points per game. While he will not be playing in this game due to an ankle injury, the team still has other scoring options such as Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe to fill the void. Overall, the Thunder's offensive statistics are strong and show that they have the potential to score big against the Pacers. However, they will need to execute their strategy with precision and focus in order to overcome the Pacers' tough defense. NBA picks experts and computer NBA picks and predictions suggest that the Thunder have a solid chance at winning, but only if they bring their A-game to the court.

Thunder: Defensive Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Indiana Pacers in a game that experts and computer NBA picks predict will be closely contested. As the Thunder currently sit 10th in the Western Conference and the Pacers sit 12th in the Eastern Conference, both teams will be looking for a victory to improve their standings. When it comes to defense, the Thunder have been solid, ranking 20th in opponent points per game with 116.4. However, they will need to improve their defense against the Pacers who rank 11th in points per game with 115.9. This means that players like Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe will need to step up their defensive efforts, as they are both averaging over one steal per game. One area where the Thunder have excelled defensively is in their ability to force turnovers. They rank fifth in the league in steals per game with 8.3 and third in opponent fastbreak points per game with 12.0. If they can continue to disrupt the Pacers' offense and limit their fastbreak opportunities, they will have a better chance at coming away with a win. Another key to the Thunder's defensive success will be their ability to limit the Pacers' scoring in the paint. The Pacers are averaging 52.7 points in the paint per game, which ranks 23rd in the league. The Thunder defense, which ranks third in opponent fastbreak points per game, will need to focus on forcing the Pacers to shoot from outside the paint. Overall, while the Thunder's defense will face a tough challenge against the Pacers' offense, they have the potential to disrupt their opponent's gameplay and limit their scoring opportunities. If the Thunder can focus on their defensive strengths and execute their game plan effectively, they have a good chance of coming out on top in this game.

Pacers: Offense Analysis

The Indiana Pacers have been struggling offensively as of late, losing four games in a row. Experts and computer NBA picks predict a tough matchup as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 31, 2023, with the Pacers sitting at 12th in the Eastern Conference. While Indiana may be struggling, they lead the NBA with 18.1 fastbreak points per game, with Buddy Hield averaging 3.7 of those points. However, the Thunder are ninth in the league with 14.6 fastbreak points per game and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 3.9. Tyrese Haliburton has been a standout performer for the Pacers, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Meanwhile, Luguentz Dort has been shooting 39.1% and averaging 13.8 points for the Thunder. Looking at the stats, the Pacers have been averaging 117.0 points per game in their last 10 games while shooting 49.2% from the field. However, their opponents have been averaging 126.4 points per game in that same span. The Thunder have won six of their last 10 games and are averaging 113.4 points per game, shooting 44.6% from the field. In terms of shooting efficiency, the Pacers have an effective field goal percentage of 54.4%, ranking 16th in the league, while the Thunder sit at 23rd with 55.4%. However, the Pacers have been struggling with turnovers, averaging 14.8 per game, ranking 23rd in the league. Overall, the Pacers will need to focus on limiting turnovers and continue to utilize their fastbreak points to overcome the Thunder in this upcoming matchup. NBA picks and experts may not be in their favor, but the Pacers have the potential to turn things around and come out with a victory.

Pacers: Defensive Analysis

The Pacers will need to focus on their defensive efforts as they take on the Thunder in an upcoming game. Indiana heads into the matchup as losers of four games in a row, and their defense will need to step up if they want to turn things around. One area where the Pacers have been strong defensively is with their ability to generate fastbreak points. Indiana leads the NBA with 18.1 fastbreak points per game, led by the speedy Buddy Hield who is averaging 3.7. The Thunder are ninth in the league in this category, scoring 14.6 fastbreak points per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 3.9. Indiana will need to contain the Thunder's transition offense and limit their fastbreak opportunities to succeed defensively. The Pacers will also need to focus on protecting the paint, as they are allowing opponents to score an average of 52.7 points in the paint per game (23rd in the league). Oklahoma City is averaging 50.5 points in the paint per game (17th in the league), so this will be an area where the Pacers' defense will need to step up. One strength for the Pacers defensively is in their ability to generate steals. They are averaging 7.8 steals per game (9th in the league) and have a steal percentage of 6.7% (11th in the league). Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is averaging 7.1 steals per game (23rd in the league) and has a steal percentage of 6.0% (8th in the league). If the Pacers can continue to generate turnovers and disrupt the Thunder's offense, they will have a better chance of winning the game. Overall, the Pacers' defense will need to be focused and disciplined in order to contain the Thunder's offense. If they can limit fastbreak opportunities, protect the paint, and generate turnovers, they will have a good chance of ending their losing streak and coming out with a win. However, if they struggle defensively, it could be a long night for the Pacers.

Injury Report

The Indiana Pacers head into their matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a handful of injuries to key players. Tyrese Haliburton is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury, as is his teammate Chris Duarte, who also has an ankle injury. Buddy Hield is also listed as day-to-day with an illness. Kendall Brown is out with a tibia injury, and Myles Turner is day-to-day with ankle and back injuries. The Thunder, meanwhile, have a more significant injury situation, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out with an ankle injury. Chet Holmgren is out for the season with a foot injury, and Lindy Waters III is out with a foot injury as well. Kenrich Williams is out for the season with a wrist injury. These injuries could impact the lineup and rotation for both teams, creating opportunities for other players to step up and make an impact. With so many key players listed as day-to-day, it will be important to monitor the injury report leading up to this matchup and adjust predictions accordingly. 

Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers come into this game as losers of four straight, and their record of 33-44 places them at the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a record of 38-39 and are currently in the 10th spot in the Western Conference. Looking at the betting trends, the Thunder have been performing well as of late, going 6-4 in their last ten games. They have also been covering the spread in six of those ten games, making them a solid pick with the spread. On the other hand, the Pacers have been struggling, going just 3-7 in their last ten games. Interestingly, they have been a good pick with the over in their last five games, as each of those games has gone over the total points line. When it comes to expert predictions, the majority seems to be leaning towards the Thunder. They have been playing well recently, and their statistics suggest that they could be a good pick against the spread. However, the Pacers have the advantage of playing at home, so that could level the playing field a bit. Overall, the Thunder seem to be the safer pick in this game. Their recent performances and strong statistics make them the favorites against a struggling Pacers team. However, bettors should keep an eye on the over/under line for this game, as the Pacers have shown a tendency towards high-scoring games.

NBA Prediction: Thunder vs. Pacers

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Indiana Pacers in what should be an entertaining game on Friday night. The Thunder have been playing well recently, winning six of their last ten games, but they have struggled on the road this season with a 15-23 record. The Pacers, on the other hand, have lost their last four games and have struggled with injuries to key players. Despite their recent struggles, the Pacers have been a solid team at home this season, going 19-19. They are also the NBA leader in fastbreak points per game, which could be a key factor in this matchup. Buddy Hield, who leads the Pacers with an average of 3.7 fastbreak points per game, is questionable with an illness, but even if he doesn't play, Tyrese Haliburton has been playing well and averaging 20.7 points and 10.4 assists over his last ten games. The Thunder have been a solid offensive team this season, averaging 117.5 points per game, but their defense has struggled at times. The Pacers have also struggled defensively, but they have the potential to be a good defensive team with Myles Turner in the lineup. Overall, this should be a close game, but I think the Pacers will be able to cover the spread and possibly even win the game outright. Look for them to take advantage of their home court advantage and their ability to score in transition. 

Pick: Pacers (+4)