PREMIUM
Rogers' NBA Monday MELTDOWN >> 45-25-2 L72 NBA, *HOT* 12-3-1 Run!
(NBA) Indiana vs. Chicago,
Point Spread: 4.00 | -110.00 Indiana (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 4.00 | -110.00 Indiana (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Pacers and Bulls meet for the third time this season on Monday night with the series even at one win apiece. The Pacers are 15-16 and the Bulls 14-16, with the Pacers currently holding down the East's eighth and final playoff spot and the Bulls sitting just a half-game back on Indiana.
Indiana: The Pacers expect to welcome back veteran guard Rodney Stuckey, who has missed the past five games because of a sore left hamstring. Stuckey participated fully in practice Friday and Saturday. He is averaging 9.5 points a game and provides coach Nate McMillan with a dependable option off the bench. However, guard Monta Ellis will likely will remain sidelined because of soreness in his groin. He has averaged 9.7 points in 24 games (23 starts) this season. This is Paul George's (21.7-7.0-3.2) team but Jeff Teague (acquired from a trade with the Hawks) has played well at PG with 15.3 PPG and 7.3 APG plus the 6-11 Turner (15.9 & 7.3) has made excellent strides in his second season.The Pacers are below average in both scoring (104.5 PPG ranks 17th) and in defending, allowing 106.3 PPG (20th).
Chicago: The "new-look" Bulls have not shown any consistency in the first half of the season, as they enter off three straight losses and losses in six of their past seven to drop to a season-worst two games below .500. Guard Michael Carter-Williams could return to the court for his fourth game of the season tonight. He has been out since injuring his left wrist and left knee Oct. 31 against Brooklyn. Carter-Williams averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 assists per game with the Milwaukee Bucks alst season and averaged 16.7 points as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 and would boost the Bulls' backcourt depth behind Wade (19.2) and Rondo (7.8-6.5-7.2. Butler's (24.3-6.6-4.2) having an All Star season but this year's team is not better without Rose and Noah (both in New York) or Gasol (in San Antonio).
The pick: The Pacers are just 4-11 SU & ATS on the road but this Chicago team is in a funk, going 1-7 its last eight ATS. No reason to lay any amount of points with the Bulls these days. Indiana is an 8* play.
Indiana: The Pacers expect to welcome back veteran guard Rodney Stuckey, who has missed the past five games because of a sore left hamstring. Stuckey participated fully in practice Friday and Saturday. He is averaging 9.5 points a game and provides coach Nate McMillan with a dependable option off the bench. However, guard Monta Ellis will likely will remain sidelined because of soreness in his groin. He has averaged 9.7 points in 24 games (23 starts) this season. This is Paul George's (21.7-7.0-3.2) team but Jeff Teague (acquired from a trade with the Hawks) has played well at PG with 15.3 PPG and 7.3 APG plus the 6-11 Turner (15.9 & 7.3) has made excellent strides in his second season.The Pacers are below average in both scoring (104.5 PPG ranks 17th) and in defending, allowing 106.3 PPG (20th).
Chicago: The "new-look" Bulls have not shown any consistency in the first half of the season, as they enter off three straight losses and losses in six of their past seven to drop to a season-worst two games below .500. Guard Michael Carter-Williams could return to the court for his fourth game of the season tonight. He has been out since injuring his left wrist and left knee Oct. 31 against Brooklyn. Carter-Williams averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 assists per game with the Milwaukee Bucks alst season and averaged 16.7 points as a rookie with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 and would boost the Bulls' backcourt depth behind Wade (19.2) and Rondo (7.8-6.5-7.2. Butler's (24.3-6.6-4.2) having an All Star season but this year's team is not better without Rose and Noah (both in New York) or Gasol (in San Antonio).
The pick: The Pacers are just 4-11 SU & ATS on the road but this Chicago team is in a funk, going 1-7 its last eight ATS. No reason to lay any amount of points with the Bulls these days. Indiana is an 8* play.
