Betsided

Clippers vs. Pacers Prediction and Odds for Saturday, December 31 (Clippers Close Trip Strong)

By Peter Dewey

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13).
Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13). / Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Clippers play the final game of a five-game road trip on Saturday against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. 

The Pacers have won back-to-back games over the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, moving to 7-4 against the spread as home underdogs this season. The team is also the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting an impressive offense so far this season. 

Los Angeles, the No. 4 seed in the West, should have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the lineup for this game. The Clips are 2-2 on this road trip, taking a tough loss to the Boston Celtics in their last matchup. 

Indiana presents and interesting challenge for this Clippers team, as these two squads play very different styles so far this season. 

Does Los Angeles (6-5 against the spread as a road favorite) close out this trip with a win and cover?

Here’s a look at the latest odds and a best bet for this game: 

Clippers vs. Pacers Odds, Spread and Total

Clippers vs. Pacers Prediction and Pick

This game couldn’t be more of a contrast of styles, starting with how fast each team plays. 

Indiana comes into this game sixth in the NBA in pace, relying on an uptempo offense for many of its wins. The Pacers have scored 135 and 129 points in their last two games, showing that they can compete with some of the league’s better offenses. 

That’s something Los Angeles hasn’t had this season, especially with Leonard and George missing time due to injury. 

The Clippers come into this game with the No. 28 offensive rating in the NBA, and they play at a relatively slow pace, ranking 22nd in the NBA in that category. 

However, Los Angeles holds its own on the defensive end, ranking third in defensive rating, which has led to the team posting a better net rating than the Pacers this season. 

I question if Indiana has the wing defense to handle both George and Leonard in this game, and the Clippers could slow things down to allow their offense to keep up with Indiana’s fast-paced attack. 

The Pacers have been great as home dogs, but this line is a little shorter than I would have expected with the Clippers healthy. I’ll back Los Angeles to close out its road trip on a positive note. 

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.