Charlotte Hornets @ Indiana Pacers - December 8, 2024

Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is shaping up to be an intriguing clash as the struggling Charlotte Hornets aim to halt their eight-game losing streak against the Indiana Pacers. The oddsmakers are leaning heavily toward the Pacers, opening them as 11.5-point favorites, and it’s hard to argue with that line given the recent performances of both teams.

First off, let’s look at how these two teams stack up offensively. The Pacers are averaging around 113 points a game with a solid shooting percentage of just over 48%. They also boast a reasonable three-point shooting percentage at 36% and get to the line frequently, converting nearly 78% of their free throws. On the other hand, the Hornets have been less impressive on offense, averaging about 107 points per game with a field goal percentage that barely breaks 42%. Their assist numbers (a shade above 23) suggest they might struggle to create quality scoring opportunities compared to Indiana’s more fluid attack.

Defensively, it seems like both teams have had their issues this season. The Pacers tend to give up plenty of possessions, losing over 15 turnovers per game while committing about 21 fouls. Conversely, while Charlotte has shown some strength in rebounding—averaging almost 46 total rebounds—they too are prone to foul trouble and have similar turnover issues.

Now let’s dive into the current form of these two squads. The Hornets are in dire straits having lost their last five games straight-up and failed to cover spreads during this horrific stretch. Their last outing was a disappointing home loss against Cleveland where they couldn’t even keep pace—losing by 14 while failing to cover a significant spread as underdogs.

On the flip side, Indiana comes off a thrilling win against Chicago where they outscored their opponents by nine points and covered as favorites. This should provide them with some much-needed momentum heading into Sunday’s matchup.

Based on all this information, I’m predicting that Indiana not only wins but also covers that hefty spread against Charlotte. Everything seems aligned for them: home court advantage, better overall play lately, and confidence coming off a win—factors that can’t be overlooked when placing your bets.

However, I wouldn’t get too carried away expecting an offensive explosion from either team tonight. Both squads have exhibited tendencies towards overs recently; nonetheless, considering how poorly Charlotte has been playing offensively along with Indiana’s defensive lapses earlier in the season—it might just be wise to lean toward betting under on this one.

In summary: expect Indiana to take care of business at home against a beleaguered Hornets team still searching for answers. Bet smart—Pacers win comfortably; they cover; but don’t expect fireworks—bet under on total points scored! Let’s hope we can turn our luck around tonight!