Lakers at Pacers for the return of Haliburton - Preview, Pick and Props!
Thursday’s NBA slate features seven games, including LeBron’s Lakers visiting Indiana and the return of Tyrese Haliburton. Both teams are struggling and both are still trying to make the playoffs, so something’s got to give in Indy tonight.
Anthony Davis (foot) and Patrick Beverley (knee) sound like they’re good to go and we think LeBron James (ankle) will play since this game isn’t part of a back-to-back set for the Lakers. LeBron sat out on Monday against the Nets, then went off for a 28-10-11 triple-double at New York on Tuesday. He had Wednesday to rest and the Lakers don’t play again until Saturday in New Orleans, so if he sits out tonight he must actually be hurting.
The Lakers (somehow) lost at home 116-115 to these Pacers back on Nov. 28 when LeBron, AD and Russell Westbrook all played. Davis led the way with 25 points, 13 rebounds, six dimes and four blocks, LeBron had 21 points and seven rebounds, but hit just 8-of-22 shots, and Westbrook came off the bench for 24 points, four rebounds and six assists on 10-of-18 shooting. The Lakers blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead in that one and allowed rookie Andrew Nembhard to launch a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer to stun the home team. Davis and LeBron have been playing well, as Davis had 27 points and nine boards to go along with LeBron’s triple-double against the Knicks. LeBron is coming off one of the best months of his career after averaging 33.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 8.2 assists, (51.4 PAR) 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.4 3-pointers while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 78 percent from the line in January. Given that LeBron’s points, rebounds and assists total is set at 46.5 tonight, I’m not sure how to pass the over up.
Sign up for a free account at Oddscrowd and check out the rest of our Best Picks for every game in every league tonight.
The Pacers will be welcoming Tyrese Haliburton back from his knee and elbow injuries. He’s been out since Jan. 11 and taking him out of the Pacers’ lineup has the same effect as when Luka Doncic doesn’t play for the Mavericks. They both lose. The Pacers have gone just 1-10 since Haliburton went down and while we don’t know how many minutes he’ll get, you have to think the Pacers wouldn’t be playing him unless he was good to go. It’s also a perfect setting for his return - at home and against LeBron.
The Pacers have no intention of tanking and think they can start winning again with Haliburton healthy and the newly-extended Myles Turner active. The return of Haliburton should crush the dreams of T.J. McConnell’s fantasy managers, although his scoreless effort in his last game might have already done so. But he was really fun to watch for most of the time Hali was out. The Pacers play again on Friday so it will be interesting to see if Haliburton is able to play in both games. Outside of rookie Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers were a disaster against the Grizzlies on Sunday night but they’ll be looking for new life with the return of their star point guard. If the No. 10 Pacers are going to avoid tanking and get back on track they have to do it now, as they’re 13 games out of first place and 5.0 games behind the No. 6 Heat. Another win against LeBron and the Lakers at home in front of a packed crowd would be a nice way to start a winning streak.
Top Oddscrowd performing bettor Rawluciano likes the Lakers’ Moneyline tonight and while we think the return of Haliburton is going to give Indy a massive spark, the Lakers are going to get payback for the embarrassing loss in L.A. back in November.
Pick: Lakers -2.5
Prop 1: LeBron James Over 46.5 points, rebounds and assists (averaged 51.4 in January)
Prop 2: Myles Turner Over 1.5 3-pointers (he’s hit at least two in five straight games
Prop 3: Aaron Nesmith Oer 9.5 points (he’s scored 10 and 16 in his last two games)
