
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers won 19 of 82 games in 2025-26 and still covered the spread in 24 of their 41 home games; on the road they covered 16. Backing Indiana to win every game lost 25.68 units, the second-worst return in the NBA.
Two different teams against the spread
Indiana went 19-63, a record only the Washington Wizards finished below. Against the spread the season came out near level: 40 covers, 42 misses, 48.8%.
The level hides a split. At home the Pacers covered 24 of 41, 58.5%; four teams covered more often at home and the Los Angeles Lakers matched them. Away they covered 16 of 41, 39.0%, and only two teams were lower. The results straight up were 11-30 at home and 8-33 away.
The underdog, nearly every night
Indiana took points 71 times; four teams did so more often. In those 71 games they won 15 and covered 36. The 11 games as favorites went worse: 4-7 straight up, 4 covers, a 36.4% rate that only the Chicago Bulls undercut.
Nineteen wins, and one month in profit
Every game backed lost 25.68 units; only the New Orleans Pelicans lost more. December did the most harm, 2-12 and 9.78 units down, with a 108-89 home loss to the Wizards at -425 on 14 December. January was the one month in profit: 7-8 and 5.83 units up. The longest price that landed was a 117-114 win at the Oklahoma City Thunder on 23 January, at +600.
March reads two ways: 2-13 straight up, 7 covers in 15.
Who they could and could not beat
The Bulls were the one team Indiana had: four meetings, four wins, four covers, 5.27 units. Five teams won all four against them: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. Against Cleveland the Pacers still covered three of the four. The Miami Heat went the other way: Indiana won two of three and made 3.80 units.
The total
Forty-one Pacers games went over and 41 went under. There is no lean to take. Indiana scored 112.43 points a game, more than only three teams, and allowed 120.41.
Questions and answers
Are the Pacers a better spread bet in Indianapolis than away?
In 2025-26, yes: 24 covers in 41 home games, 58.5%, against 16 in 41 on the road.
How often did the Pacers win and cover as underdogs?
They were underdogs in 71 of 82 games in 2025-26, won 15 of them and covered 36.
Did backing the Pacers to win make money in 2025-26?
No. One unit on every game lost 25.68 units: 13.80 at home and 11.87 away.
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