This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
Jusuf Nurkic OVER 29.5 points+rebounds+assists (-113) at IND -- FanDuel (2:06 PM CT)
Is Jusuf Nurkic...back? After underwhelming performances all season, Nurkic has put together great back-to-back games. Over the past two (both against Memphis), he's averaged 21.0 points, 18.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Today, he goes up against the short-handed Pacers, who are still without Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. I'm banking on Nurkic dominating the paint against the Pacers' thin frontcourt.
Nick Whalen
Trail Blazers -5 (-112) at IND -- DraftKings (12:30 PM CT)
The Blazers have dropped five in a row straight-up, so they're in desperate need of a win. Luckily, they catch the depleted Pacers without both Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis, so Portland will have the positional matchup at virtually every spot. The Blazers are 16-12 ATS on the road and 7-6 ATS as a road favorite this season, while Indiana is just 8-20 ATS at home -- the second-worst mark in the league.
Jusuf Nurkic OVER 13.5 points (-143) at IND -- DraftKings
The Pacers' frontcourt injuries -- Goga Bitadze is also questionable tonight -- are the primary reason to target Nurkic, but he's also started to look a lot more like himself over the last two games. After going for 26 points, 17 boards and five assists against Memphis on Friday, Nurkic followed up with 16 points, 19 boards, five assists and two blocks in Sunday's rematch. Consistency has obviously been an issue this season, but this is an extremely advantageous matchup against the team leading the league in pace over the last 10 games. The matchup has the highest over/under (241.5 points) on the slate by a full 7.0 points.
