Miami is 1-4 and still looking for its first win at the Kaseya Center. Still, the oddsmakers are heavily favoring the Heat against a Pacers team without Tyrese Haliburton. In his first five games as a member of the Heat, Antetokounmpo has stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 27.6 points and 11.2 rebounds. The new-look frontcourt of Bam and Giannis combined for 48 points and 27 rebounds in Wednesday's 129-117 win in Atlanta.
The Pacers are yet again without their leader, Haliburton, who will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a hamstring strain. Their starting center, Ivica Zubac, went out with a sprained ankle after just seven minutes against the Nets last Sunday and is also listed as out. T.J. McConnell has yet to play this season. Indiana played Wednesday without Haliburton and lost at home to Philadelphia, with Nembhard dishing 14 assists and Siakam scoring a team-high 26.
Miami's frontcourt of Antetokounmpo, Adebayo and Portis gets a Pacers team seriously lacking rim protection, and Indiana's offense is not the same without Haliburton. The Heat will look to win consecutive games for the first time this season in their NBA Cup opener, and a shorthanded opponent is the spot they have been waiting for. I like them to win by double digits.
Pacers vs Heat prediction: Heat -8.5 (-108) available at time of publishing. Playable to 9 (-110).
