Expect Offense as Wizards Play Host to Pacers

Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards

• When: Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
• TV: TNT
• Radio: 1500 AM93.5/107.5 The Fan

NBA Odds

• Indiana Pacers Total: 117
• Washington Wizards Total 120½
• Game Total: 237½

Pacers Look Dangerous With a Capital D

Indiana closed out the regular season with a 125-113 road win over Toronto on Sunday. The Pacers kept the good times rolling by blitzing Charlotte 144-117 in their play-in pairing on Tuesday by getting a bunch of positive contributions from several players.

“We came out great. Everybody was connected,” Pacers All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis said afterward. “I feel like we’re clicking more and more every game. The ball is moving, and that’s the most important part.”

Sabonis finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists. Doug McDermott hit four three-pointers en route to 21 points and leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon finished with 16 points and eight assists in his first game since April 29.

Wizards Need Westbrook to Shoot Straight

Washington fell to Boston in its play-in matchup 118-100 on Tuesday night, mostly because they couldn’t stop Jayson Tatum – and Russell Westbrook couldn’t shoot straight. Boston’s All-Star forward scored a game-high 50 points and Westbrook shot an ice-cold 6 of 18 from the field.

Bradley Beal scored a team-high 22 points and Westbrook finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Washington was just 3 or 21 from behind the arc.

“We couldn’t find it. We couldn’t find the basket,” coach Scott Brooks said. “We haven’t shot well all year long but we’re not a 3-for-21 shooting team.”

Expect High-Scoring Shootout – Again

The over is 8-1 in Indiana’s last nine games following an against the spread win, 8-1-1 in its last 10 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points and 10-3 in its last 13 games overall. The over is 11-1 in Washington’s last 12 games against a team with a losing straight-up record and 20-6 in its last 26 home games against a team with a winning road record.

The over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between these two when they meet in the nation’s capital and 4-1-1 in the last six meetings overall.

Indy has scored 125 points or more in three of its last four games. Washington has scored at least 120 points or more in eight of its last 10 games. I like Indy to top its 117-point team total while Washington does the same against its 120½-point total. I like the Pacers for the outright road win, seeing as how they have more depth and playoff experience than the Wizards.

Pick: Over 237½ Points