The Indiana Pacers (15-48) and Portland Trail Blazers (30-34) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The game will broadcast live on KUNP.
The Blazers are 8.5-point favorites over the Pacers on the spread (Trail Blazers -8.5), with the over/under set at 236.5 total points. Portland is a -390 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Indiana is +310 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pacers vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 8.
Pacers vs Trail Blazers Prediction, Pick
- Pacers vs Trail Blazers pick: Jrue Holiday 20+ Points (+121)
My Pacers vs Trail Blazers best bet is on Jrue Holiday to score 20+ points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pacers vs Trail Blazers Odds
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | +310 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | -390 |
Pacers vs Trail Blazers NBA Preview
The Pacers continue their road trip tonight in Portland, then wrap up in Sacramento on Tuesday. They have dropped the first two games to the Clippers and the Lakers, and their last eight overall.
They continue to keep pace with the bottom of the league, as the Pacers look to maintain their first-round pick, which they ideally hope lands within the top four selections.
They are still waiting for Ivica Zubac to make his team debut, and Andrew Nembhard is questionable tonight.
Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith are both probable. Siakam has scored 20 points in each of his last four games.
Siakam was an All-Star for the fourth time this season, and Deni Avdija joined him on the World team.
However, he may not join him on the court tonight as Avdija has essentially missed the last six games and is questionable tonight with a lower back injury.
In addition to Avdija, Kris Murray is also questionable, while Shaedon Sharpe is out once again.
Portland has no significant urgency to get Avdija or Sharpe back, as it has a six-game lead on Memphis for the 10th seed.
If the season ended today, the Trail Blazers would begin the Play-In Tournament against the Clippers, as they are 1.5 games behind L.A. and 2.5 games behind the Warriors for the eighth seed.
When they get there, Jrue Holiday's experience will be key in the Play-In Tournament. However, he is firmly in control of the offense right now.
Pacers vs Trail Blazers Predictions, Betting Analysis
Jrue Holiday 20+ Points
Holiday is averaging 20.6 points on 51/43/86 shooting splits over his past 13 games.
He has scored 18 points in 10 of those games and 20 in nine of them.
Holiday has a 24.3% usage rate this season, but that increases to 26.6% when playing without Avdija and Sharpe.
He is averaging 23.4 points and 6.4 assists when playing without both of them.
Jrue Holiday 8+ Assists
On Wednesday, I backed Holiday, and he went for 35 points against the Grizzlies.
However, he also had a double-double with 11 assists, and he followed that up with 20 points and 10 assists in a tougher matchup against Houston.
Without Sharpe and possibly with Avdija, his lines offer value, and I like him for 20 points and eight assists tonight.
Pascal Siakam 20+ Points
Siakam should join him in reaching the 20-point plateau.
He has scored 20 points in eight of his last 10 games while averaging 25 points per game.
Siakam has also scored 20 points in three of his last four games against Portland.
Despite the Pacers' tanking, he has played 30 minutes of late.
Trail Blazers Moneyline
Speaking of, I like the Pacers to continue their losing streak tonight.
They have lost six of their eight games by double digits, and they are 4-18 against the Western Conference this season.
We also get a slight boost in the odds from Siakam's points, combined with the Blazers moneyline, due to the negative correlation.
Pacers vs Trail Blazers Best Bet
- Jrue Holiday 20+ Points (+121, DraftKings)
Pacers vs Trail Blazers Parlay Picks
- Jrue Holiday 20+ Points
- Jrue Holiday 8+ Assists
- Pascal Siakam 20+ Points
- Trail Blazers Moneyline
Parlay Odds: +950 via DraftKings
