The NBA Playoffs kick off today with the Play-In Tournament, in which a newly formed mini tournament that features four teams of each conference, in which the teams that finished in seventh, eight, ninth and tenth place of conference participate to make it the actual playoffs. The first game of this new format will have the Hornets vs. Pacers matchup.

For Charlotte, the lost some steam at the end of the regular season. They were in eight place, which would still have had them in the Play-In Tournament, but from a better spot. For Indiana, they were tenth but ended in ninth place after beating the Raptors in their last game, giving them the home field advantage for this game. Who will keep their Playoffs hopes and dreams alive?

With that, NitroBetting news takes a closer look at the upcoming Hornets vs. Pacers game. Get important team information, key players, and other essential details. Furthermore, we present to you the latest NBA odds for the game, as well as timely betting trends and expert betting predictions to help you lock in on the best picks.

Check out all the latest Basketball betting odds and lines at our online Bitcoin sportsbook before placing your bets!

Hornets vs. Pacers Game Information

• When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 6:30 PM ET
• Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
• TV: NBA TV / ESPN
• Radio: 102.5 FM/610 AM WFNZ (Hornets) / FM 93.5 & 107.5 The Fan (Pacers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Indiana Pacers -156 / OU: 228.0

READ MORE: Wizards vs. Celtics NBA Odds, Play-In Tournament Preview and Prediction – May 18, 2021

Why Bet on the Charlotte Hornets?

As mentioned in the beginning, the Hornets didn’t end the regular season on the right foot. They struggled through April with only nine wins in 26 games. They haven’t won a regular season game since May 9th. If they take this loss, that’s the end of the season for them. But if they win, they still need another win since their spot makes them play two games.

The player to keep an eye out for is PJ Washington, who will probably be given the bigger task of taking of taking Domantas Sabonis on the Pacers side. If he’s able to keep him on the ground for most of the game, their chances of winning will likely increase. Plus, Washington will have to be good in the paint, as the Pacers have a tendency to give up points in the paint.

Why Bet on the Indiana Pacers?

Even though the Pacers were able to get a small push in the end, they also weren’t having a very consistent season. Compared to the Hornets, they head into the Play-In Tournament winning the five of the last ten games. They also head into this matchup with their key players, after coming off their final regular season win against the Raptors.

If we need to point out the player to watch on the Pacers’ side, it would be Caris LeVert, who’s been averaging 27.3 points per game, with 45.7% shooting from the field, 42.1% from deep. He’ll also have the busy job to stop LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier in their tracks. It’s a lot on his plate, but he can definitely get the job done.

Hornets vs. Pacers Betting Trends

• The Hornets are 4-8 ATS in the last 12 games..
• The Hornets are 0-5 SU in the last 5 games.
• The totals went UNDER in 10 of the Hornets’ last 10 games when playing on the road against Indiana.
• The Pacers are 5-5 in their last 10 home games.
• The Pacers are 4-6 against the spread in their last 10 games.
• The totals have gone over 8 times in the Celtics’ last 10 home games.

Hornets vs. Pacers Expert Betting Prediction

The Pacers head into the game as the favorites, especially having the home field advantage. But the Hornets have the experience of taking down the Pacers, which they did twice this season. So it’s safe to say that it’s balanced matchup. And there’s way too much on the line for them sleep out on this game. We’ll just have to wait and see!

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.