The Charlotte Hornets and the Indiana Pacers will get a taste of the play-in tournament format the NBA has just instituted this season. The loser of this game goes home, while the winner faces either the Boston Celtics or the Washington Wizards for the eighth seed in the playoffs proper. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Charlotte Hornets vs Indiana Pacers NBA Play-In Tournament Game on May 18, 2021
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indiana
When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Charlotte Hornets (+3.5) vs. Indiana Pacers (-3.5) – view all 2020-21 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Charlotte Hornets (+3.5)
Regular Season Record: 33-39
The Hornets will limp into the play-in tournament stage of the postseason, as they have lost all of their last five games. In the regular-season finale on Sunday, Charlotte lost to the Washington Wizards on the road, 115-110. The Hornets were horrendous from the field in that game, shooting just 39.4 percent from the floor and 31.1 percent from behind the arc. Still, when playing to their full potential, the Hornets are a dangerous team that can get lots of offense from the likes of Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, and LaMelo Ball. Charlotte has two wins this season against the Hornets, including the last one, 114-97, on the road on April 2. In that game, Bridges came off the bench and scored 23 points.
The total has hit the under five times in the Hornets’ last six road games against a team with a sub-.500 home record.
Betting on the Indiana Pacers (-3.5)
Regular Season Record: 34-38
Unlike the Hornets, the Pacers managed to get a win before the regular season ended on Sunday, topping the Toronto Raptors in Tampa to the tune of a 125-113 score. Indiana is hoping that it will get back Malcolm Brogdon for this play-in game against the Hornets. Brogdon has not played since late last April because of a hamstring injury, though he seems he’s close to a return. Given the importance of Tuesday’s game, Brogdon could finally be back after a long absence. Brogdon had 25 points in the Pacers’ 116-106 road win over Charlotte back in January. Domantas Sabonis also had a great performance in that game, as he had a triple-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 37 minutes of action. Indiana finished the regular season sixth in the league with 115.2 points per game and third with 43.2 field goals made per game.
The Pacers are 6-0-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
The Pacers win, 119-115.
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