NBA Playoffs 2013: Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 5 Picks

The home team is 4-0 against the spread in the first four games between the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks Wednesday, as the two teams prepare to meet at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Sports bettors will find that the Pacers are seven-point home favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 188 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 5 of this Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup from a betting perspective, while offering a prediction on the total along the way. 

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks covered the spread by an average of 14 points in their two home wins in this series, which includes a 102-91 victory as 1.5-point favorites Monday.

NBA handicappers will find that the Hawks are 2-6 straight up and 4-4 against the spread as road underdogs of 6.5 to nine points this season, with the UNDER going 4-3-1 in that situation.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are certainly capable of bouncing back from back-to-back losses in this series, considering they covered the number in winning the first two games by an average of 8.75 points.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Pacers are 16-15-1 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points, with the OVER holding a slight 17-15 advantage.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers play the first half total as one of their NBA playoff picks Wednesday, as the Indiana Pacers are averaging 110 points per game at home in this series, while the Atlanta Hawks have shot over 50 percent in the first 24 minutes in all four contests.

NBA Pick: Over 94 First Half

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