Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers: A battle for the last playoff spot in the East
The Miami Heat are visiting the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.
The Heat are better on the road than in Miami
The Miami Heat are seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 43-34 record. They have won four of the last five games and are coming off a 119-104 win over the Houston Rockets. The Heat are third in the league, allowing 108.4 points per game, and are ranked 27th, scoring 109.9 points per game. Jimmy Butler leads the team with 21 points per game, followed by Tyler Herro with 20.7.
The Pacers are solid at home
The Indiana Pacers are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 44-34 record. They have won three of the last four games and are coming off a 126-112 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers are on top of the league, averaging 122.6 points per game on a league-high 50.3% shooting from the field. Pascal Siakam leads the team, averaging 21.4 points per game, followed by Tyrese Haliburton with 20.2.
Betting Trends
Miami has won 13 of the last 20 games against Indiana. The Heat are 4-1 SU in the last five games overall, 5-1 SU in the last six games on the road and 7-0 SU in the last seven games against teams from the Central Division. The Pacers are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games overall, 5-1 SU in the last six games against teams from the Southeast Division and 3-11 SU in the last 14 games played in April.
Prediction and Conclusion
Both teams have had many ups and downs this season and are going into this game with high stakes. The Pacers have been the best defensive team in the league, and that is a huge asset going against a defensive team like the Heat. The Pacers won 144-129 in Miami in their last meeting, and there is no doubt they are favorites in this one. Miami has picked up the pace lately and has proved many times that they can play their best basketball when it matters the most. Anyway, the Pacers will use the home-court advantage in this one and add an important win in the race for the playoffs.
