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76ers
PacersPhiladelphia is 3-1 and has the bigger names. Indiana went 19-63 last season, but Tyrese Haliburton missed all of it. He came back this season but was ruled out Wednesday afternoon with a hamstring injury. Five and a half points at home is enough for me. Pacers.
The Matchup
- Philly’s start. The 76ers won in New York 106-100, beat Cleveland 114-106 and beat Milwaukee 127-116, then lost 106-93 to Detroit at home on Sunday. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 28.8 points.
- Indiana’s start. The Pacers are 2-2: a 123-120 win in New Orleans, a 121-105 home loss to Dallas, a 136-109 win in Brooklyn and a 110-102 loss in Milwaukee on Monday.
- Haliburton is rolling. He’s averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists.
- Tip-off. 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, on ESPN.
Injuries
Indiana is without Ivica Zubac (ankle) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring). Update: Haliburton (hamstring) was ruled out Wednesday afternoon for at least the next two weeks. Andrew Nembhard (neck) was listed as questionable. Philadelphia is without Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall, and Ariel Hukporti is out for the season.
The Number
Last season’s scoring margins, at half weight this early, plus home court make Philadelphia about a two-point favorite. The board says five and a half. Neither roster is last season’s: Indiana has Haliburton back, and Philly’s top group now includes Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. So this is a lean on the extra points, not a big edge.
The honest case against: Philly is deeper, and Indiana is playing without its starting center. It’s a Game Pick, a lean, and like every pick we post, it lands on the receipts page win or lose.
Bottom Line
Take the Pacers plus five and a half at −105 at Fanatics. Lean. Haliburton at home, getting more than a bucket. Boom, baby.
Same-Game Parlay
One read in two legs. Philly’s ball-handling is spread across a lot of hands, and Maxey has been finishing plays more than setting them up. If the 76ers don’t get easy looks, Indiana stays in it. Every leg needs the same game, so this is one position, not two bets.
- ✓Indiana Pacers +5.5
- ✓Tyrese Maxey under 5.5 assists
✓ WON · 2 of 2 legs hit
Maxey scores more than he sets up, and Indiana stays close.
Confirm lines before you build the ticket. This parlay is a Game Pick. Player props not available in all states.
