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The Indiana Pacers (24–22) visit the Atlanta Hawks (22–24) at State Farm Arena on Monday, January 26, 2026. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the Hawks are laying 5.0 points at home as moderate favorites, with the total set at 233. Atlanta is -200 on the moneyline, while the Pacers come in as road dogs at +168.
This is an important game for both teams jostling in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Pacers want to solidify a top-six spot, while the Hawks are trying to claw back toward .500 and stay above the play-in cut. With both teams pushing tempo and dealing with personnel rotations, this game projects as a high-possession affair — with value tied to offensive consistency and late-game execution.
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Pacers vs Hawks Odds
These are the current lines. Always track the latest NBA odds for any late movement, especially around injury updates.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +168 | +5.0 (-110) | O 233 (-110) |
| Atlanta Hawks | -200 | -5.0 (-111) | U 233 (-110) |
Pacers Betting Form
The Indiana Pacers come in at 24–22 and remain one of the most entertaining but volatile teams in the NBA. They play at one of the fastest paces in the league and rank among the top five in offensive efficiency. Tyrese Haliburton continues to orchestrate the attack, pushing tempo and creating clean looks for shooters on the move.
However, the problem for Indiana isn’t scoring — it’s stopping anyone. The Pacers rank near the bottom in defensive rating, especially on the perimeter, and they’ve been giving up 115+ points with regularity. That means they can cover as underdogs when they’re hot from three, but they’re always vulnerable to blowout runs when their defense collapses.
From a betting standpoint, the Pacers are a high-variance play. They’ve cashed as road dogs when the offense clicks, but they’ve also been buried by teams that dominate the paint or control the boards.
Injury-wise, there’s been some movement in the rotation. Bettors should stay tuned to the Indiana Pacers injury report for confirmation on Haliburton’s minutes (after recent restrictions) and any news on interior depth. If the Pacers are thin at center, Atlanta’s frontcourt could eat on the glass.
The Pacers are 11–13 SU on the road this season, but they’re always live when the three-ball is falling. The question is whether they can keep up the pace without bleeding points the other way.
Hawks Betting Form
The Atlanta Hawks sit at 22–24, and like Indiana, they’ve been frustratingly inconsistent. Their offense has come alive lately, led by Trae Young’s playmaking and Dejounte Murray’s off-ball scoring, but the defense still leaves too much room for volatility.
Atlanta ranks top 10 in offensive pace and attempts a high volume of threes, especially in early clock sets. They can put up 120+ on any given night, but they’ve also lost games where their transition defense and rebounding have failed them completely.
Their home form hasn’t been elite either — just 11–12 SU at State Farm Arena — but they’ve started covering more frequently when facing fast-paced teams that allow similar chaos. This makes them an interesting favorite in this spot, but -5 isn’t cheap.
The Atlanta Hawks injury report is worth monitoring, especially for Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanović, both of whom are listed day-to-day. Capela’s interior presence is key when facing a small-ball team like Indiana that can stretch defenses with quick cuts and wing shooting.
Overall, Atlanta’s profile looks a lot like Indiana’s — explosive offense, shaky defense, and streaky cover results. The difference is they’re at home and healthier at the key spots.
Pacers vs Hawks Matchup Breakdown
This game projects as a fast-paced shootout, and the number (233) reflects that. Both teams rank top-7 in pace, and both are more comfortable trading buckets than grinding stops. For bettors, the question is which team can do just enough on defense to separate late.
Key matchup areas:
Pace and Tempo
This is likely to be a top-3 pace game on the slate. Both teams get up shots early in the clock, and neither has a consistent transition defense to slow down opponents. That means scoring runs can snowball quickly.
Guard Play
Trae Young vs Tyrese Haliburton is the headliner — both are elite facilitators, and both lead teams that are at their best when they dictate pace. If one of them controls tempo and finds rhythm early, that team likely covers.
Rebounding and Second Chances
Indiana gives up a lot of second-chance points. If Capela plays, Atlanta has a clear edge on the glass. If not, Indiana can survive with quicker rotations and stretch the floor to pull bigs away from the rim.
Three-Point Shooting
Both teams take a ton of threes — but the Pacers shoot them more efficiently. If Indiana gets hot from deep, they can erase deficits fast. Atlanta tends to win when they dominate the corner three and control the paint.
Bench Scoring
Indiana’s second unit has been more productive, especially with Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin giving them scoring and athleticism. If Atlanta’s bench can’t keep up, a -5 cover could slip away.
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Pacers vs Hawks Predictions and Best Bets
At -5, Atlanta looks like the “safe” side, but there’s a strong argument for the dog here. Indiana plays fast enough and shoots well enough to stay in almost any game — especially against another inconsistent team like the Hawks.
If Haliburton plays full minutes and Indiana shoots around 38%+ from deep, the Pacers have a real shot to win outright. Atlanta’s defense isn’t built to handle rapid-fire ball movement, and their transition defense could be exposed again.
The total at 233 is high, but fair. Both teams rank near the top in possessions per game, and neither has been reliable defensively. Lean Over — especially if both backcourts are active and the pace ramps up early.
Still, the best bet here is with the points.
Best Bet: Pacers +5.0 (-110)
Secondary Lean: Over 233
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