Pacers vs Wizards

The Indiana PAcers take on the Washington Wizards at home for their season opener. Here are the latest odds, injury report, and predictions.

The safer bet is on the Wizards to win a narrow one. While the Pacers should be pretty motivated to start the season off on a good note, playing in front of the home crowd may not be enough to overcome their early season, rust-caused struggles from downtown. [Daniel Theis](https://www.nba.com/player/1628464/daniel-theis) (rest) is currently listed as out against the Wizards. Last season, the Pacers and Wizards split their season matchup, with both teams notching two wins apiece at home. The latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook have Washington as slight -1.0 favorites on the road against Indiana. However, the Wizards, while far from contenders, are looking to win now, and led by Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, you never know what you will get from their squad.

The Washington Wizards visit the Indiana Pacers to open the year. We continue our NBA odds series with a Wizards-Pacers prediction and pick.

In a month I’d expect this line to be closer to 3 or 4 in favor of the Wizards. While the Wizards aren’t in the cream of the crop in the East, they’re at least trying to make the playoffs – more than we can say about the Pacers… He did so while shooting an efficient 50% from the field and 40% from 3. The third-year guard out of Iowa State was the 12th overall pick in 2020 and spent his first 1.5 seasons with Sacramento before they inexplicably shipped him to Indiana. In Indiana, Haliburton will have the opportunity to be the lead guard coming into the season for the first time in his career. The Wizards acquired Porzingis from Dallas midseason last year and it was an instant success in a limited sample. That is certainly fair as without Beal the Wizards are a completely different team. In 17 games for the Wizards last year, Porzginis averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 37% from 3. Indiana tried for a number of years to contend with the Paul George nucleus but never broke through. The Wizards enter the 2022-23 season as one of the more undervalued teams in the league. Now, perhaps the market is factoring in that Beal hasn’t played a full season since the 2018-19 season. Despite Beal playing in just 40 games, the Wizards managed to scrape together a 35-47 record.

Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers talks to the crowd during the Pacers Fan Jam on October 9, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jackson got heavy minutes last year and played well, while Smith is a project piece after flaming out with the Suns. Turner is a huge trade chip for the Pacers this season, and will likely be in trade rumors all the way up to the deadline. For the time being, look for the Pacers to give Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith a majority of the minutes in the frontcourt Wednesday.

The Indiana Pacers regular season is here. Tonight, the blue and gold officially kick off a new era of Pacers basketball when they play host to the ...

[missing the entire preseason](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-center-daniel-theis-likely-to-remain-out-rest-of-preseason). If he can put together a solid offensive outing in his debut, that would be promising for a franchise that is pivoting into a new era for the first time since the late 2000s. [CLICK HERE](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/bennedict-mathurin-shows-off-skills-with-27-points-versus-knicks-lot-of-potential) [.](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-have-several-players-in-for-workouts-this-past-weekend-led-by-tyrese-haliburton) Even if Hield isn't directly guarding Beal for much of the game, Hield projects to be one of the Pacers top scorers this season. Tyrese Haliburton vs Monte Morris: Morris is the new starter for Washington at point guard, and he rarely makes mistakes or turns the ball over. Buddy Hield will likely start at shooting guard for the blue and gold, but don't be surprised to see Bennedict Mathurin or Chris Duarte get some reps defending the three-time All-Star. [CLICK HERE](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/the-latest-on-a-potential-pacers-and-lakers-trade-involving-russell-westbrook). The over/under for the game is 226.5. Aaron Nesmith is questionable with left foot soreness, and [he too missed time in the preseason](https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-wing-aaron-nesmith-will-miss-time-with-foot-injury). The Indiana Pacers regular season is here. It will be a new feel for the blue and gold. Tonight will be the first game of a long-term building project.

The Indiana Pacers tip off the 2022-23 regular season on Wednesday night when they host the Washington Wizards are newly refurbished Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Mathurin will likely come off the bench but should get his share of minutes in what Rick Carlisle has said will be at least a ten man rotation. The dust hasn’t fully settled on the construction around the Fieldhouse and like the building, the Pacers are renovating their roster this season, but promising exciting, new features to pique fan interest. Those options also allow for varying lineup combinations to matchup or create mismatches by going small or big.

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner will miss Wednesday's season-opening matchup against the Washington Wizards with a sprained left ankle, ...

Turner and Hield are veterans that would help a veteran team like the Lakers far more than a rebuilding one like Indiana. Turner, 26, appeared in just 42 games for the Pacers last season, hampered by injuries. At the very least, adding some future draft picks would be a plus (Westbrook would surely be bought out in such a deal).