The Indiana Pacers (15-40) and Washington Wizards (14-39) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The game will broadcast live on FDSIN.
The Pacers are 2.5-point favorites over the Wizards on the spread (Pacers -2.5), with the over/under set at 232.5 total points. Indiana is a -140 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Washington is +120 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pacers vs. Wizards predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, February 19.
Pacers vs Wizards Prediction
- Pacers vs Wizards pick: Wizards +2.5 (-110)
My Pacers vs Wizards best bet is on Washington to cover the spread at +2.5. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pacers vs Wizards Odds
| Pacers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | -140 |
| Wizards Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 232.5 -110o / -110u | +120 |
Pacers vs Wizards NBA Preview
If you look at tonight's 10-game slate, most people would say there’s one game you should absolutely steer clear of: the tanking Pacers against the tanking Wizards. Yet, here we are, running straight into the fire.
Both teams are clearly in tank mode, and this is the first night of a back-to-back between them. They play tonight and tomorrow night, with both games in Washington.
We know the Pacers tend to sit guys in at least one leg of a back-to-back. So, we’ll see if they sit everyone all at once or stagger them between the two games.
Looking at the injury report, Washington comes in relatively clean. Alex Sarr is coming back, and Kyshawn George is off the injury report. So, they are going to be healthy and ready to go.
The Pacers, on the other hand, have Pascal Siakam out after playing 18 minutes during All-Star Weekend — and that’s literally what’s listed on the injury report. So, he’s not playing.
We’ll see what happens with Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, but this is clearly a team managing minutes and personnel.
Given Adam Silver’s comments at the All-Star break and the fines handed out to the Pacers and Jazz, it will be interesting to see how aggressively teams manage tanking optics right out of the break.
Pacers vs Wizards Predictions, Betting Analysis
Why are we betting Washington? First off: bet it and don’t watch it. That’s my biggest piece of advice.
I like Washington +2.5, and on the moneyline you can find around +140.
My general rule of thumb is that if two tanking teams are playing each other, I prefer the home team.
If I’m going to bet it at all, I’m willing to take either side depending on the number.
However, we are getting a good number with the home team in this spot.
You usually get fewer tanking shenanigans from the home side in front of their own fans.
So, Wizards +2.5, sign me up. Let me know how the game goes, because I will not be watching it.
Pick: Wizards +2.5 (-110)
Spread
My Wizards vs. Pacers betting prediction is on Washington to cover the spread at +2.5
Moneyline
I'm taking the Wizards +2.5, but I also like Washington to win outright on the moneyline in this game.
Over/Under
No play on the total in this spot.
Wizards vs Pacers Betting Trends
