THE Charlotte Frelons (3-5) return home Friday to face the Pacers (4-4). LaMelo Ball has been in great shape to start the season, posting averages of 28.1 pts/4.8reb/6.0ast/1.5stl through the team’s first eight games.

Tyrese Haliburton has proven to be a potent threat as the offensive catalyst for an intentional and effective attack on the other end. A 43-point blowout the last time these teams met illustrates the talent in the game from the top point guards in the 2020 draft class.

Here are my picks for tonight’s game. Chances courtesy of FanDuel Sports Betting.

1 star – Not very confident

2 stars – A little confident

3 stars – Fairly confident

4 stars – Very confident

5 stars – This should be a lock

3 star game on Pacers (-7): After an efficient start to the year on offense for the Hornets, the team’s scoring has slowed considerably in recent games. The team has topped 110 points just once in their last 6 games, posting a 2-4 record.

The Pacers may only be one game ahead of the Hornets in the standings, but they’re a much better team than the record suggests. They won 3-4 after a slow start, scoring impressive wins over Boston, Dallas and Orlando.

Back a surging and disciplined Indiana team to cover here on the given line.

2 star game on below: When you think about a matchup between the Hornets and Pacers, offensive penalty shootouts are one of the most logical types of matchups you can expect.

Looking a little deeper, there are a few points that suggest a more impartial preference for the over. Indiana and Charlotte are 7th and 23rd, respectively, in points per game, 12th and 19th in offensive rating, 23rd and 24th in defensive rating, and 13th and 19th in pace.

The higher option is still preferred, especially given Indiana’s recent rise toward a level of production more similar to last season’s historically efficient levels. That said, the confidence is not where one might expect.

My picks this season:

CEP: 4-1 (80.0%)

O/U: 2-3 (40.0%)

Overall: 6-4 (60.0%)

Odds Disclaimer

Game odds are updated periodically and are subject to change.

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