The Indiana Pacers travel to face the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, with a combined record of 4–15. Utah enters the matchup as a slight home underdog.
The point spread often balances uneven matchups, leading many experienced bettors to support weaker teams when the odds favor them. But when two struggling squads meet, things get unpredictable.
Indiana looks nothing like the unit that once reached the NBA Finals Game 7. Injuries have seriously weakened a roster once viewed as an Eastern Conference contender. Still, the Pacers tend to stay competitive when their rotation is intact.
Utah, healthier overall, lost its starting center Walker Kessler for the season due to a shoulder injury but remains strong at home. The team benefits from altitude and from facing traveling opponents.
Many of these results have depended heavily on lineup health and the availability of key starters. The expected return of Benedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, and Pascal Siakam—absent in Sunday’s loss to Golden State—should help Indiana’s chances.
I fully expect a competitive game with both teams playing hard in search of a rare win that will likely come down to the wire.
Given the unpredictable dynamics and potential lineup adjustments, betting value might lie in the proposition markets rather than the main spread.
This game features two injury-hit squads with home-court advantage and returning players potentially deciding a tightly contested matchup.