The 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament concludes with the championship game on Saturday evening. T-Mobile Arena hosts the matchup in Las Vegas, and it is the only NBA game on the agenda for the day. The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Indiana Pacers with the inaugural title on the line. Both teams are unbeaten in NBA In-Season Tournament play, with the Lakers entering at 14-9 overall and the Pacers bringing a 12-8 overall record.
Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET. The latest Lakers vs. Pacers odds via SportsLine consensus list Los Angeles as the 4-point favorite. The over/under for total points is up to 243.5 after opening at 240.5. Before making any Pacers vs. Lakers picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 7 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 92-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Pacers vs. Lakers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Lakers vs. Pacers:
- Lakers vs. Pacers spread: Lakers -4
- Lakers vs. Pacers over/under: 243.5 points
- Lakers vs. Pacers money line: Lakers -178, Pacers +150
- LAL: The Lakers are 11-12 against the spread this season
- IND: The Pacers are 12-8 against the spread this season
- Lakers vs. Pacers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers have a stellar defense, led by Anthony Davis. He is the league leader in blocked shots (2.7 per game) this season, and Davis is one of the best rim protectors and defensive rebounders in the sport. Los Angeles leads the in-season tournament in defensive efficiency, and the Lakers are giving up only 110.3 points per 100 possessions for the season. Los Angeles leads the NBA in free throw prevention, yielding fewer than 19 attempts per game, and the Lakers are in the top 10 in defensive rebound rate, opponent field goal percentage, and opponent 2-point percentage.
The Lakers also have a stellar offense, led by LeBron James, and Indiana's defense is clearly the weakest unit in this matchup. The Pacers are giving up 119.8 points per 100 possessions this season, and Indiana is last in the NBA in free throw prevention (27.7 attempts per game) and points allowed in the paint (62.5 per game). Indiana is also firmly in the bottom five of the league in opponent field goal percentage, opponent 3-point percentage, defensive rebound rate and second-chance points allowed. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pacers can cover
Indiana's offense has been utterly dominant this season, including a tremendous run during the NBA In-Season Tournament. The Pacers are unbeaten in tournament action, scoring 127.4 points per 100 possessions with 62.3% true shooting. Indiana thumped Milwaukee with 128 points in the semifinal, and the Pacers have the best offensive metrics in the league. Indiana is No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating (123.5), assists (30.2 per game), points in the paint (59.8 per game), 2-point percentage (59.6%), and field goal percentage (50.8%) in 2023-24.
The Pacers also have elite ball security, committing only nine turnovers in Thursday's semifinal win and committing a giveaway on only 12.1% of offensive possessions this season. Indiana is also potent from 3-point distance, burying 14.8 triples per game and making 38.1% of shots from long distance. The Pacers keep the pressure on, averaging 17.2 fast break points per game, and Tyrese Haliburton is an excellent offensive creator. Haliburton is averaging 26.9 points and a league-best 12.1 assists this season, including 27.8 points, 13.7 assists, and only 1.8 turnovers in six In-Season Tournament games. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pacers vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, projecting 241 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pacers vs. Lakers, and which side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Pacers spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that is on an 92-50 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
