Lebron was great in Game 2, but the Pacers have been a good bet all year. Gregory Shamus
Pacers vs. Cavaliers Game 3
Indiana returns home with an added dash after stealing home court in Game 1. Another boost in the belief of the Pacers will be the fact that LeBron practically had to put the team on his back in Game 2, dropping 46 points, and still, the Pacers were able to hang tough while taking the Cavs best punch. The Cavaliers outscored the Pacers by 15 in the first quarter but failed to carry the momentum into the rest of the game. Indiana was able to outscore the Cavaliers in the remaining three quarters and have now outperformed Cleveland in five of the eight quarters played in this series.
Listed as -700 favorites, I'm not convinced the Cavs are the better team overall. Indiana is now 2-0 ATS in the series, and it comes as no surprise for a team that covered the spread 58.3 percent of the time in the regular season. This season, Indiana has rewarded backers when playing at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where they were 24-17 ATS. Indiana flew under the radar this year, but this has been a team that has over-exceeded expectations in every way. A revealing sign of a good team is one that knows how to learn from its losses, and the Pacers have done just that covering the line in 21 of their 34 contests following a loss (61.8 percent).
The Pick
Although Im slightly worried about LeBron going bezerk again, knowing that’s really the only way this team can contend, I lean with the team playing better at the moment. The Pacers' Victor Oladipo has been carrying the team on his back, and playing at home will add to his confidence leading the Pacers to a 2-1 series lead.
Pacers PK
Pacers Team Total over 104.5
SATURDAY
Timberwolves vs. Rockets Game 3
Saturday evening we travel to Minneapolis in a pivotal matchup for the home team. After giving the Rockets all they could handle in Game 1, the grudge match saw Houston dominate for three quarters, never leaving the spread in question down the stretch, An abysmal shooting performance by James Harden was washed away by the efforts of Chris Paul, the opposite of Game 1. When listed as an away favorite, the Rockets are 23-13 ATS (63.9 percent) winning by an average margin of 9 points per game. Both teams struggle covering the number off 2-3 days rest where the Timberwolves are 7-8 and the Rockets 8-11.
The Pick
I expect the Timberwolves to be more efficient at home and play much better at home. The only problem is in both games either Harden or Paul were off their game, and sooner or later both will be on the same wavelength. If the Wolves want to make this series competitive, this is a must win. The over in Wolves games at home was profitable during the regular season as they saw the total clear the number in 60% of those games. This might be the lone game Minnesota wins this series, and to do that they must score plenty. With the Rockets finally starting to hit shots, and Minnesota playing with he crowd behind them, look for this game to go Over.
Over 214
Saturday soccer
England
Tottenham vs. Manchester United
Both teams to score
Germany
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Over 3
France
Bordeaux vs. PSG
Over 3
Sunday
England
Swansea vs. Manchester City
over 3.5
For any questions or comments reach me at @JerryBoKnowz on twitter
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Phoenix Suns (26-27) at Houston Rockets (33-20)
Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EST – Toyota Center, Houston
BETMGM Line: Rockets -6; Over/Under: 223.5
The Phoenix Suns will visit the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, looking to break a three-game road losing streak. Phoenix is currently 11th in the Western Conference, fighting to stay in playoff contention, while Houston holds the fifth spot and is aiming to solidify its position.
The Rockets have been solid against Western Conference competition, boasting a 19-12 record. However, they’ve struggled to distribute the ball effectively, averaging just 22.5 assists per game—last in the conference. Fred VanVleet, who leads the team with 5.8 assists per game, will be unavailable due to an ankle injury, potentially affecting Houston’s offensive rhythm.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker continues to lead the way, averaging 26.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The Suns are 17-16 in conference play and will need a strong showing from their perimeter defense, as Houston makes 12.0 three-pointers per game. Grayson Allen has been heating up recently, averaging 2.7 made threes over his last 10 games.
In their last 10 games, both teams have struggled to find consistency, posting matching 4-6 records. The Suns have shown more offensive firepower in that stretch, averaging 116.1 points per game but giving up 120.0 on defense. Meanwhile, the Rockets have averaged 109.4 points but held opponents to 112.2 points per contest.
Key Matchup: Alperen Sengun vs. Suns’ interior defense
Sengun has been one of Houston’s most consistent performers, averaging 19.0 points on 49.1% shooting. If he plays through his day-to-day status (lumbar), his presence inside could challenge Phoenix’s ability to control the paint.
Injury Watch:
- Rockets: Fred VanVleet (ankle), Cody Zeller (personal), and Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) are out. Alperen Sengun (lumbar) and Tari Eason (rest) are day to day.
- Suns: Bradley Beal (toe), Vasilije Micic, and Cody Martin are day to day or awaiting trade clearance.
Both teams will need to rely on depth, with injuries limiting their usual rotations. Phoenix is desperate to stay in the playoff race, while Houston looks to protect its home court and climb the standings.
*ChatGPT assisted with this content.