(Photo: Bryan Terry via The Oklahoman)
Regular Season Game 53
Wizards (30-22) at Pacers (30-24)
February 5, 2018 at 7:00 PM Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, IN
TV: NBCSW Radio: 1500 AM
Odds: IND -3.5
What to Watch:
Sharing the Rock
By this point you know that the Washington Wizards have been embracing the sharing is caring attitude without the talents of John Wall. In the past four games, the Wizards have 132 assists on 173 field goals. The topic has been beat to the bone, but as long as it continues to bring Washington success, we'll keep talking about it. The Wizards are finally playing team offense, which is not a dig at Wall because it started in mid-January when he was still playing, and it is something they should hope to carry into the playoffs.
Key Matchup:
Bradley Beal vs. Victor Oladipo
In another matchup between Eastern Conference All-Star shooting guards, Oladipo has led a miraculous resurgence for the Pacers who many, myself included, thought were fleeced in the Paul George trade. Oladipo is averaging a career-high in points with 24 per game, but more importantly is more efficient by shooting a career-high from the field (.487) and beyond the arc (.390). The former DeMatha star and Silver Spring, MD native will give Beal, Otto Porter, and anyone else who tries to guard him all that they can handle.
UPDATE (2-5-2018): Oladipo was ruled out of Monday's game, along with starting point guard Darren Collison (knee surgery), with an illness.
X-Factor:
Indiana Also Distributes the Wealth
On the season, Indiana has six players that are averaging double-figures in scoring with two more averaging more than seven points per game. Oladipo leads the way, but he has a strong supporting cast in Myles Turnver (13.7), Bojan Bogdanovic (13.3), Darren Collison (12.8), Domantas Sabonis (12.4), Thaddeus Young (12.0), Lance Stephenson (9.2), and Cory Joseph (7.8). Looks like everybody eats in Indiana, too.
Fun Factor:
Catching Up With Bojan Bogdanovic
Last season, Washington spent a first round draft pick to acquire Bogdanovic as well as Chris McCullough and shed Andrew Nicholson's contract. Bogdanovic was a lights out three-point shooter for the Wizards in the early going of his tenure in D.C., but then significantly cooled off late in the regular season and the playoffs. Bogdanovic is shooting 37.8 percent from deep for Indiana this season.
Prediction:
Washington loses a close game on the road and will remain without a five-game winning streak this season.