Golden State Warriors vs Indiana Pacers 12/13/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream
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Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers Matchup Preview (12/13/21)
The underperforming Indiana Pacers will host the Golden State Warriors at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana has tried to make this group of players, excluding newcomers Chris Duarte and Caris LeVert, work together for a few years and to no avail. Caris LeVert has not worked out for the Pacers as most fans were hoping, but it may still be too early to make any declaration on the potential fit and his long-term impact on the team. Indiana is growing impatient, and this may be the last opportunity for it to stay together. On the other hand, everything is clicking for the Golden State Warriors. They have only won three of their past five, but don’t let that deter you from the fact that this team is one of the best that we have seen since the Warriors had Draymond Green, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant. Now, one of those players is not on the roster anymore, and another has not played since 2019. Still, the Warriors have plenty of firepower to outshoot anybody on any given night, as well as a strong enough defense to force opponents into tough shots.
Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers Betting Odds
There is a distinct possibility that the Warriors give Steph Curry the night off in their first game of a back-to-back. Curry will likely have to wait one more day to break the three-point record but surely will enjoy doing it in Madison Square Garden. Keep an eye on this as no official announcement was made when this article was written; however, anything and everything is subject to change.
I like the Pacers to cover in this one. There have been a few catalysts in the Pacers organization recently, including a meeting with some of their best players. This meeting seems like it was a last-ditch effort to motivate the Pacers players to find a way to win. I would imagine that if they want to stay in Indiana, there will be a push to be better. Since the Pacers certainly won’t be favored in this one, I like that they need to keep it close to cover.
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TV Schedule
Date: 12/13/21
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
Channel: NBA TV
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Golden State Warriors Starting Lineup
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Jordan Poole
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney
Golden State Warriors Analysis
After a few down years, the Golden State Warriors are finally back on top of the NBA. It seems that perhaps the dynasty that many thought was finished is not over quite yet. Klay Thompson’s return is inevitable, and that should elevate the Warriors to heights they haven’t seen since their incredible 73-9 season. For now, Steph Curry is holding down the fort; however, he may not be available for this matchup as he could get a rest night since it is the first night of a back-to-back. The Warriors have shown that they can squeeze out wins even without Curry as they did against the Detroit Pistons.
Indiana Pacers Starting Lineup
PG: Malcolm Brogdon
SG: Caris LeVert
SF: Chris Duarte
PF: Domantas Sabonis
C: Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers Analysis
After several years of trying to ride it out with the players on its roster, Indiana may finally be looking to move forward. The Pacers still don’t seem to want to accept the hard truth of rebuilding; they are under the impression that no matter what moves are made, they can still win now. Essentially, there are multiple players on the trade block, including Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Caris LeVert, that could be dealt any given day. This has sparked a fire under some players, notably Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon, who have vocally stated that they want to stay in Indiana long-term. Turner has put up two strong games with incredible efficiency from the field, while the Pacers have won three straight bouts against the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, respectively. Indiana will be in the best position to win if it can get good looks from behind the arc and hit them.
Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers Daily Fantasy Picks
Chris Duarte was one of the best “feel-good” stories of the 2021 NBA Draft. Duarte came from the Dominican Republic, enrolling in a Christian Academy in New York. After high school, he found his way to a JUCO school named Northwest Florida State College, where he stood out as a tall, skinny, athletic guard. Eventually, Duarte made his way to the University of Oregon, where he developed one of the most polished and complete games out of every draft prospect. What was once a “feel good” story is just what happens when an exceptional athlete maximizes his potential on both ends of the floor. Duarte is arguably the purest, or second-purest, shooter in his draft class and was the most NBA-ready prospect. Duarte’s age was a deterrent for many NBA teams, but the Pacers saw past the fact he was 24 years old. With T.J. Warren still out for the foreseeable future, Duarte should continue to yield many starts, including this one. Duarte averages 13.5 points, four rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. There are the occasional efficiency issues that pop up, but Duarte is having a fantastic rookie season for the most part. Duarte recently had a 23-point game against the New York Knicks, and as the season continues and he settles in, these performances will become more common.
You could certainly make an argument that Andrew Wiggins is having his best year ever. While there have been several seasons where Wiggins has averaged more points, he has never been more efficient from the field (48.7%) or from behind the arc (41.5%) than this year. Additionally, he has become an incredibly reliable defender in the past year or two, which he never was during his time in Minnesota. He’s also averaging the second-most points on this Warriors team with 18.5 points per game. That number will probably decrease when Klay Thompson returns, but that does not mean he isn’t playing his best ball. In the meantime, take advantage of his usage.