Pacers vs. Wizards Predictions: Wizards on the Moneyline

The East Play-In game sees the Wizards and the Pacers facing off. Here's how Zach Rainey sees the game going...

We have two more play-in games before the official start of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

For many, including myself, I’m excited to see fans back in the arenas for playoff games. Last year’s games in the bubble felt like glorified pick-up games, and I believe that’s why we saw some of the stats we did, particularly guys like T.J. Warren looking like Kevin Durant in the bubble.

Speaking of Warren, his team is in play tonight when the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards hope to keep their seasons alive in a win-or-go-home game.

Domantas Sabonis was incredible for the Pacers in the team’s convincing win over Charlotte Tuesday night, grabbing 21 rebounds and dishing out nine assists (killing my under 8.5 assists for him by the hook) to go with 14 points.

This is the third time this month that the Pacers will have taken on the Wizards, with Washington taking both games. The first was a 13-point win at home in which the total came out to an astounding 295. The second was just a one-point Washington victory, but once again hit the over by 15 points.

In the three games against Washington this season, Sabonis has averaged an astounding 32.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists.

I have a number of plays I like for this game.

The current spread sits at Washington -4. There was nothing I saw from the Wizards Tuesday night against the Celtics I particularly liked, but Bradley Beal wasn’t nearly himself and Russell Westbrook didn’t have many options to look to after that.

I like the Wizards on the moneyline at -167. Indiana is simply too banged up for my liking. Caris LeVert will be out again and Malcolm Brogdon is listed as questionable. I also don’t think Indiana gets off to such a hot start like they did against Charlotte when Doug McDermott, or Dougie McBuckets as he’s sometimes known as, started off 4/5 shooting. Oshae Brissett won’t come anywhere near his 10/14 shooting night for a team-high 23 points again.

For prop bets, I’m going to take one on both sides.

For Washington, I’m taking Westbrook under 13.5 assists. He had just five against Boston. You can get it at even odds at BetMGM, 888Sport, BetRivers and Unibet, while the price is higher at PointsBet at -115.

For the Pacers, I’m taking Sabonis under 8.5 assists. I know he’s done incredibly well against the Wizards this season, but I think the Wizards clamp down on Sabonis and force him into mistakes as Indiana’s likely No. 1 option tonight.

You can get that at even odds at BetMGM, -108 at 888Sport, Unibet and BetRivers, and -115 at PointsBet.