Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The NBA Cup finished on Tuesday night with the Milwaukee Bucks beating the Oklahoma City Thunder so that means it's back to regular season games, with teams trying to end the calendar year on a good note.

One game that has gathered plenty of attention for Thursday night is between the Pacers and Suns in Phoenix. Indiana has had a sluggish start to the season while the Suns are still trying to gel together. Phoenix has been listed as 6.5 point favorites, so let’s preview this matchup and get into our expert’s best bets.

Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns betting picks and predictions

Phoenix Suns -6.5 (-110)

The Pacers have a lot of issues right now. Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t looked like the emerging superstar that we saw last season considering his field goal percentage and assists per game have dipped off by quite a margin.

However, Haliburton is fortunate enough to be surrounded by a lot of talent which has kept the Pacers afloat. The duo of Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner in the paint has been excellent and the development of Bennedict Mathurin has been fantastic to watch.

Even with all that talent, the Pacers have one huge weakness: playing on the road. At home, the Pacers are 8-4. But on the road, Indy has won just four of their 15 games. The offense looks completely different on the road than at home considering they average over 117 points per game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse but only 111 when anywhere else.

That’s led them to losing eight of their last 10 on the road. Unfortunately for the Pacers, tonight’s game is in Phoenix.

It’s a bit surprising to see the Suns with just a 14-11 record at this point in the season. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have been fantastic on the offensive side of the ball which was pretty expected, but an unsung hero of the team has been Tyus Jones. The offseason acquisition is averaging over 12 points and nearly 7 assists per game as the distributor of the offense.

Plus, having Jusuf Nurkić on the boards is critical. The big man is averaging 10 rebounds per game and has been a perfect fit for a fast paced Suns offense. Phoenix has a solid starting lineup with good depth off the bench too like Grayson Allen, Monté Morris, and Mason Plumlee.

The only problem that the Suns have run into has been on defense. Phoenix ranks 21st in defensive rating this season, but luckily for the Suns, the Pacers rank 22nd. Neither team has a great defense so backing the Suns on the spread is the play since they have the edge on offense.

H2 - Over 236 (-110)

Over 235.0 Total Points (-110)

A Suns win correlates well with the over. That’s because neither team possesses a strong defense so this game will be decided on offense. The Suns and Pacers rank 19th and 25th in opponent points per game and a big reason for that is poor perimeter defending.

Both defenses rank in the bottom half of the league in opponent three-point percentage which should create plenty of opportunities for players like Durant, Booker, Haliburton, and Mathurin.

On offense, both teams rank in the top half of the league in offensive rating as well as ranking 10th and 12th in points per game. The Pacers also happen to be one of the fastest-paced teams in the league which means more possessions and more opportunities for points.

Backing the over in games with the Suns or Pacers has been a very profitable spot this year. In fact, the over has hit in 61.5% of Indiana's and 60% of Phoenix’s games this season.

Even with high totals such as this one, the combination of poor defense with a star-powered offense is the perfect recipe for a high-scoring game. It would not be a surprise to see both teams end up with at least 120 points, so take the over in Phoenix.

Read more betting picks and predictions for the NBA on site.

Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns odds

Indiana Pacers	+210
Phoenix Suns	-260
Spread	Suns -6.5
Total Points	O/U 235.0

Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns player props

Player Points

Tyrese Haliburton (IND Pacers)	O/U 18.5
Pascal Siakam (IND Pacers)	O/U 19.5
Bennedict Mathurin (IND Pacers)	O/U 15.5
Devin Booker (PHX Suns)	O/U 26.5
Kevin Durant (PHX Suns)	O/U 24.5
Bradley Beal (PHX Suns)	O/U 16.5

Read the latest NBA news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.