Back in December, when they played in the NBA Cup final, the Indiana Pacers seemed to be the next big thing in the Eastern Conference. They were the NBA’s highest-scoring team and had a superstud passing point guard in Tyrese Haliburton, along with a seasoned coach in Rick Carlisle.

Much has changed for the Pacers since then. Pascal Siakam was acquired. Buddy Hield was traded away. There was a six-game winning streak bridging December and January, but since then there has been no sustained success or failure.

The Pacers’ longest winning streak since Jan. 6 is only three games, while their longest losing streak since Jan. 6 is also three games.

On Thursday night, the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves come to Indianapolis in what will be a measuring-stick game for the Pacers. Indiana is eighth in the East, but it could very easily rise up and catch the Orlando Magic for fourth. However, the Pacers are running out of time, and they have a five-game Western road trip coming up later this month.

They need some momentum and they need some mojo, and they will be trying for both on Thursday against a Timberwolves team that has vastly exceeded expectations this season and sustained its success. What should we expect from this non-conference showdown?

NBA Player Props Today for Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Tyrese Haliburton/Mike Conley, 8+ assists 

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards had just 13 points coming off the bench in his team’s last game -- less than half of his 26.3 PPG average. The last time these teams played, Edwards scored 37 points, and it is worth mentioning that the Pacers have the second-worst defense in the Eastern Conference behind Washington. Both teams get scoring from different players on different nights, so the safest wager here is to go with the two ball distributors.

The pick: Tyrese Haliburton and Mike Conley to each have at least eight assists (+320).

Jimmy Butler, triple-double

Miami’s Jimmy Butler had eight assists and six rebounds in his last game, which is not exactly sniffing triple-double territory. However, let’s not forget that this guy peaks in the playoffs, and the playoffs are right around the corner. What better way to get him back into the conversation regarding the best players in the league than by his having a triple-double against the Mavs in Dallas on TNT? He already had one this season against another Texas team, the Spurs.

The pick: Jimmy Butler to get a triple-double (+2800).

DeMar DeRozan/Coby White/Steph Curry

Steph Curry has failed to reach 30 points in six of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Chicago has three guys capable of scoring 30 per game, but each of them does it rarely. Is 25 the safe number?

The Pick: DeMar DeRozan, Steph Curry and Coby White to each score at least 25 points (+1000)

Domantas Sabonis/De’Aaron Fox, 50+ points/rebounds/assists

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is coming off a 44-point outing in his last game, and he can do that on any given night while also dishing dimes. Meanwhile, Domantas Sabonis leads the NBA in triple-doubles. The Kings are pretty much a two-man show, and if their two best players are on top of their games, this is a very enticing line to play on Betway’s Player Specials board.

The Pick: Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox to both have 50+ points, rebounds and assists (+2800)

Odds are subject to change*

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