Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans Predictions

Pacers favored despite three absences

SportsPicksForum makes Indiana a -155 moneyline favorite and a 3.5-point road favorite for Wednesday's 8:00 PM ET opener at Smoothie King Center. The Indiana Pacers / NBA.com game preview identifies this as the first regular-season game for both teams, so there is no current-season form to test against those prices.

Tyrese Haliburton supplied Indiana's clearest positive sign in the preseason, totaling 48 points and 15 assists across three appearances. He scored 24 points in 17 minutes against Oklahoma City and had 17 points and six assists in 20 minutes against Milwaukee, according to Indiana Pacers / NBA.com.

The NBA injury report lists Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell and Johnny Furphy as out. Kobe Brown and Jalen Slawson are probable, while Braden Smith is doubtful. The available evidence doesn't show how Indiana will replace those minutes or how much the absences should affect a 3.5-point spread.

Betting outlook

Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21.5 points per game last season, according to Indiana Pacers / NBA.com, but one returning scoring figure isn't enough to establish value on the Pelicans. Indiana is the more likely winner based on the SPF moneyline, yet neither side of the spread is supported strongly enough for a bet.

The 239.5 total is also a pass because no current pace, offensive or defensive data is available for either team. The recorded 50-50 betting split is a default value rather than a measured public position, so it carries no weight.