Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers: Can the Thunder get back on top of the conference
The Oklahoma City Thunder are visiting the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.
The Thunder are close to the top of the West
The Oklahoma City Thunder are third in the Western Conference with a 52-24 record. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off one of the toughest losses of the season, 135-100 to the Boston Celtics. The Thunder are second in the league, shooting 38.9% from three-point territory, third, shooting 49.8% from the field, and fourth, averaging 119.9 points per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the second-highest scorer in the league, averaging 30.3 points per game.
The Pacers are trying to avoid the play-in tournament
The Indiana Pacers are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 43-34 record. They have won three of the last five games and are coming off a 115-111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The Pacers are allowing a league-low 10.7 three-pointers per game but are at the bottom of the league, allowing 49.8% shooting from the field. Pascal Siakam is leading the team, averaging 21.4 points per game, followed by Tyrese Haliburton with 20.4.
Betting Trends
Indiana has won 4 of the last 5 games against Oklahoma City. The Pacers are 2-11 SU in the last 13 games played in April and 5-1 SU in the last five home games played on Friday. The Thunder are 10-5 SU in the last 15 games overall and 3-8 SU in the last 11 games played on Friday.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Thunder were on top of the West most of the season, and they are just short of being there in the last couple of weeks of the regular season. They are locked for the playoffs but are currently on a challenging road trip. They lost by 35 in Boston and will need to regain their confidence in Indiana. The Pacers are in a difficult situation, being barely in the top six in the East. Haliburton and Siakam have clicked well since the forward came in from Toronto. The Pacers have won six of the last seven home games against the Thunder and will add another one on Friday night.
