Indiana vs Washington Prediction: the Wizards Can't Afford the Loss

The Pacers have failed four of their last five games, and so has Washington. Both will likely be fighting for a playoff spot. That's why a win would make a big difference. Who is closer to success at this point?

Rick Carlisle proves he is one of the best coaches in the NBA. He didn't work out with Indiana last season, but after the rebuild, the Pacers ran. 

They are in the top 3 of the NBA in average speed and total distance covered. The team is moving the ball well, and having a playmaker like Tyrese Haliburton plays a significant role here. Indiana has assembled a nice core around the young star: rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard have had some big games this season. The latter was very effective as a sub for Haliburton and helped the Pacers beat Golden State recently.

The win over the Warriors was only Indiana's 2nd in 7 previous games. In their recent game against Minnesota, Rick Carlisle's team also played some nice defense and offense but came up just shy of victory. The final score was 115-121, a loss to the Pacers. Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton, and Buddy Hield had to do three things simultaneously while everyone else did the same. They scored 75 points on 26 of 40 shooting. Hield had seven three-pointers, Turner had four blocked shots on defense, and Haliburton added 15 assists to his 26 points.

The Wizards are a playoff contender who can't even pretend to do much more than that. Bradley Beal cannot be the team's main hero, while Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma are roughly at an all-star level. Washington, moreover, invites a promising young player every year. So far, Dani Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Corey Kispert, and Johnny Davis are more likely to be role players than potential stars. The Metropolitan club also lacks stability on defense, and now Beal is out due to injury.

In 8 games, Wes Ansell Jr.'s team has won only one game and is now just 11th in the NL East. Recently, Washington lost to Chicago by a score of 111-115, although they were ahead until the middle of the 4th quarter. Porzingis did not hit a single three-pointer on six attempts but picked up 12 free throws and got many fouls. The Latvian center earned 28 points. No complaints about the Capitals' offense: Kyle Kuzma and Monte Morris played well, while Gafford, Avdija, and Kispert each had 10 points.

Washington looked good against Chicago, which has big problems under the basket, but it will be tougher against Indiana. The home team may defend decently in the paint even if Turner is out. Additionally, Porzingis might not be available for the Wizards, and they're already short on offensive options without Beal. The Pacers concede many turnovers from beyond the arc, but Washington doesn't have many good shooters to take advantage of that. 

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