The Los Angeles Clippers (37-36) and Indiana Pacers (16-57) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The game will broadcast live on FDSIN.
The Clippers are 8.5-point favorites over the Pacers on the spread (Clippers-8.5), with the over/under set at 239.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -380 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Indiana is +300 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Pacers predictions and NBA picks for Friday, March 27.
Clippers vs Pacers Prediction, Pick
- Clippers vs Pacers pick: Darius Garland Under 19.5 Points (-115)
My Pacers vs. Clippers best bet is on Darius Garland to score under 19.5 points tonight. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs Pacers Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -112 | 239.5 -105o / -115u | -380 |
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -108 | 239.5 -105o / -115u | +300 |
Clippers vs Pacers NBA Preview
The new-look Clippers have won three straight contests and are just over .500. They're far from being in an ideal spot as the Western Conference's eighth-ranked team, but they're 10-5 this month with plenty of momentum.
Kawhi Leonard is still lighting it up from the field amid a borderline 50-40-90 season, but two of his team's additions from last month are also producing at a high level in supporting roles.
Darius Garland is healthy again after missing all of February and is averaging 21.1 points and 6.8 assists per game while shooting better than 50.0% from the field and long range in March.
Then there's Bennedict Mathurin, who recently returned from a four-game injury layoff but has increased his scoring average from 17.8 points to 20.1 points since the Pacers shipped him off to the Clippers.
Only three teams have scored more points per game (122.1) than Los Angeles this month. The Pacers are closer to the opposite end of the spectrum.
Indiana is still enduring a major drop-off after reaching last year's NBA Finals and ranks 27th in points per game (111.9) this season. Its defense has arguably been worse lately, though.
The Pacers have allowed 126.6 points per game this month en route to an abysmal 1-12 record. Struggling to get stops won't cut it against one of the league's hottest offenses.
Obi Toppin (back) is questionable for Indiana, while Aaron Nesmith (back) is probable. Jordan Miller (back) is questionable for Los Angeles.
Clippers vs Pacers Predictions, Betting Analysis
I thought about taking the Mathurin revenge game angle against his old team here, but opted to make a play on Garland's point total.
Garland has been extremely efficient as a scorer with the Clippers, but he's attempted 7.6 3-pointers per game since joining them. That's a shade under half of the 15.3 shot attempts he puts up per game in Los Angeles.
Indiana doesn't do much well on defense, but gives up a league-low 11.9 made 3-pointers per game.
Garland has attempted at least eight 3-pointers in the last seven games he's scored at least 20 points in, but all signs point to the Pacers prioritizing limiting that kind of volume.
Pick: Darius Garland Under 19.5 Points (-115, DraftKings)
Spread
I'm not betting either side of the spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
My Clippers vs. Pacers betting prediction is Darius Garland under 19.5 points.
