NBA Picks 3/16 – Brooklyn Nets @ Indiana Pacers

NBA Picks 3/16 – Brooklyn Nets @ Indiana Pacers

The Brooklyn Nets (26-40) visit the Indiana Pacers (37-30) tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana is an 8-point favorite and the total is 227.5. This is the first of three meetings between these teams. Tonight is the final leg of a five-game road trip for Brooklyn, they’ve dropped three of the first four including a 114-106 loss to Orlando on Wednesday night. Brooklyn has lost nine of their last eleven road games. Indiana is coming off a tough 132-129 overtime loss at home to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. Bulls All-Star DeMar Derozan scored 46 points including the game-tying baseline jumper with 0.3 seconds left to force overtime.

GAME STORYLINES: BROOKLYN

In July 2019, the Brooklyn Nets acquired the All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in an effort to win an NBA championship. Unfortunately, injuries to both players and off the court issues for Kyrie Irving prevented the duo of achieving any modicum of success in Brooklyn as they only won one playoff series in three seasons. Brooklyn made the decision to trade both players in February 2023 at the trade deadline and rebuild with young players and high draft picks. Durant was traded to Phoenix and Irving was traded to Dallas. In total, Brooklyn received seven draft picks and five players – Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, T.J. Warren, Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie – for Durant and Irving.

Of the five players Brooklyn got in trade packages for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, versatile forward Mikal Bridges emerged as the centerpiece of the trade. After being a solid and dependable role player for the first 4.5 years of his career in Phoenix, the then 26-year-old Bridges emerged as a superstar when he arrived in Brookyn. Bridges averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1 steal on 47.5 percent shooting in 26 games with Brooklyn. He also averaged 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4 assists in Brooklyn’s first round 4-0 playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Bridges scoring is down this year from 26.1 ppg last season with Brooklyn to 20.9 this season as his shooting efficiency has dropped in all categories but he still remains Brooklyn’s top offensive threat on most nights.

Shooting guard Cam Thomas (team-leading 21.3 pts, 3 asts, 2.1 threes per game), center Nik Claxton (12.2 pts, 9.8 rebs, 2.1 blks, 62.8% from 2) and forward Cam Johnson (13.7 pts, 4.4 rebs, 45.4% from 2, 39.7% from 3) are excellent complimentary pieces alongside Mikal Bridges. The 22-year-old third-year guard Thomas is having a breakout season after getting about 17 minutes per game over his first 2 seasons. The prolific guard can score quickly and in bunches as he averages over 20ppg game while playing just 30 minutes per game. Johnson came to Brooklyn in the Kevin Durant trade along with Bridges, and is also having his most productive seasons of his career with the Nets. The 24-year-old Claxton has recorded 24 double-doubles this season and is one of the top shot-blockers in the NBA.

GAME STORYLINES: INDIANA

On February 8, 2022, the Indiana Pacers made the bold move of trading their star big man Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for a package featuring then-22-year-old, second-year point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton had been somewhat limited in Sacramento as he played a secondary role to established star point guard De’Aaron Fox. Upon his arrival in Sacramento, Haliburton immediately elevated his game to an elite status. He’s increased his numbers in every statistical category as a member of the Pacers and has been named an All-Star in each of his 2 seasons with the team.

The 24-year-old Haliburton is enjoying his best season in the NBA this year, which is his third with Indiana and fourth overall. He’s averaging 20.7 points, a career-high and NBA-leading 11.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1 steal while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor. He’s registered 38 double-doubles on the season. The only blemish on Haliburton’s career up to this point has been his injury history, he has yet to play in more than 58 games in a season. Haliburton has dealt with injuries again this year but he’s been able to participate in 54 games and will set a career-high for games played in a season. Not coincidentally, Indiana is on pace to have their most wins since the 2018-19 season when they finished 48-34 with Haliburton available for most of the year.

In a move that indicated Indiana were all in on building a championship roster around Tyrese Haliburton, they traded for Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Pascal Siakam on Jan. 18. The 29-year-old Siakam is a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection who is averaging over 20 ppg for the fifth consecutive season. In 26 games with the Pacers, Siakam is putting up 20.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 55.1 percent shooting from the floor. Center Myles Turner (17.3 pts, 7 rebs, 1.8 blks, 52.5% from 2) is also a valuable contributor for the Pacers. The 27-year-old Turner has also had problems staying healthy as he’s not played in more than 62 games since the 2018-19 season. He has a career average of 2.2 blocks per game over his 9-year NBA career which shows what a defensive force he is.

Indiana was dealt a tough blow when second-year shooting guard Benedict Mathurin underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn right labrum about a week ago. Mathurin ended the season with averages of 14.5 points and 4 rebounds across 59 games, mainly as the sixth man. The former lottery pick – No. 6 overall in the 2022 NBA draft – averaged 16.7 ppg as a rookie last year and was named to the All-Rookie first team. The injury came at an inopportune time as Indiana traded sharpshooter Buddy Hield to Philadelphia at the February trade deadline to free up more minutes for Mathurin. The Pacers will likely rely on swingman Aaron Nesmith (12.3 pts, 3.8 rebs, 1 stl, 50.2% from 2) to fill the void left by Mathurin. Veteran Doug McDermott could also see an increased role with the Pacers when he returns from injury, he’s a career 41% percent three-point shooter through 10 NBA seasons.

THE PICK: PACERS (-8)

Indiana is jockeying for playoff position while Brooklyn appears to be phoning in the season, Lay the Points and take the Pacers