NBA
Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Saturday 8th February 2025 Start time: 1:00 pm local time (9:00 pm BST) Venue: Crypto.com Arena, downtown Los Angeles, California Last meeting: March 29, 2024, Indiana Pacers 109-90 Los Angeles Lakers For the first time in the 2024/25 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers face off for a game of high-quality Saturday afternoon basketball.
LeBron James//Getty Images
For the first time in the 2024/25 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers face off for a game of high-quality Saturday afternoon basketball. Both the Lakers and the Pacers sit fifth in the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively, highlighting both teams’ ambitions of forming a strong playoff push. Both franchises have near-identical records and are in great form. Who will prevail in this crucial matchup to bolster their respective seeding for the playoffs later in the season?
As always, SportsBoom is here to deliver a comprehensive preview of this matchup. We will take a look at key players on both rosters and look at previous head-to-head stats, before revealing our valued bets.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Los Angeles Lakers the slight favourite to win:
Los Angeles Lakers: 8/11 (1.73) – 57.80%
Indiana Pacers: 11/8 (2.38) – 42.02%
Forecast odds – Betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
This encounter marks the 101st occasion where the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers go head-to-head in regular season history. This regular season matchup has seen very close-knit affairs in previous seasons as both teams rise to the occasion. The Pacers have won three of the last five meetings.
Despite this superiority, the overall record is very much a one-sided display of dominance for the Lakers. The Southern Californian team have produced a mightily impressive 65 wins, whereas the Pacers only have 35 themselves.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2023/24 Season | March 29, 2024 | Indiana Pacers 109-90 Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2023/24 Season | March 24, 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers 150-145 Indiana Pacers |
| 2022/23 Season | February 2, 2023 | Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 Indiana Pacers |
| 2022/23 Season | November 28, 2022 | Indiana Pacers 116-115 Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2021/22 Season | January 19, 2024 | Indiana Pacers 111-104 Los Angeles Lakers |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Los Angeles Lakers
- Record: 27-19
- Home Form: 16-6
- Road Form: 11-13
The Los Angeles Lakers are 7-3 from their previous ten games as the franchise distances themselves further and further away from .500 territory. The Lakers have one of the best home records in their Conference, having only lost six times in 22 matches. Though being placed fifth in the West, a lot of work needs to be done to maintain the higher positions in the division considering the abundance of talented teams surrounding them.
LeBron James remains the Lakers' biggest name considering his recognisable status in the sport. He is still delivering impressive performances at 40 years old. James is currently propping up numbers of 23.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 9 assists per game. His longevity is undeniable, marking his 21st season in the league. James’ assists per game put him one position ahead of opponent Tyrese Haliburton, who will be discussed later in the preview.
26-year-old Austin Reaves is playing his best stuff since joining the NBA in 2021, posting a career-best 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He is slightly worse off in rebounds, but 4.2 a season is still providing significant use in defensive situations. With team-mate Anthony Davis out for the foreseeable, Reaves will be called upon to put in a shift in his absence.
Indiana Pacers
- Record: 26-20
- Home Form: 13-8
- Road Form: 13-12
The Indiana Pacers sit fifth in the Eastern Conference and are displaying impressive form, bragging an 8-2 record from their last ten games at the time of writing. The Pacers are one game behind the fourth seed the Milwaukee Bucks, but both franchises have a few games in hand over the teams above them.
The roster’s leading scorer is 30-year-old Pascal Siakam, who is averaging 20.5 points per game. It might appear this is a lower figure, but multiple players on their roster are propping up marginally fewer numbers which shows their depth in talent. The power-forward is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game too, stats that put him inside the top 40 in the NBA for both departments.
Considering Siakam’s use in scoring and rebounding, our next player is the organization’s lead assister, Tyrese Haliburton. The former first-rounder has regressed slightly in comparison to his previous two years, but the 24-year-old is still performing at a consistent level. Haliburton is averaging 8.6 for the season, which places him in the top five in the entire league. Can Haliburton up his game for this important encounter?
Value Bets
LeBron James: Over 20 Points and Over 7 Assists
Our first valued bet focuses solely on LeBron James. James has posted above 20 points in seven of his last eight games, signalling his quality on the court. He has posted consistent numbers for fun. In addition, the all-time great has averaged 9.5 assists throughout January, therefore, we expect him to continue producing for his team. We predict James to post at least 20 points and 7 assists.
Tyrese Haliburton: Over 15 Points and Over 10 Assists
Since joining the Pacers in 2022, Haliburton has posted impressive numbers against the Lakers. He has posted double-doubles in three of his last four meetings but has posted at least eight assists on every occasion. Our next valued bet sees him complete yet another double-double with over 15 points scored to boot.
Prediction: Indiana Pacers to win
Despite it being close to call, SportsBoom predicts the Indiana Pacers to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. The Pacers have a marginally better head-to-head record against the Lakers, in addition to having an injury-free roster. This game should go down to the wire, as the Lakers are difficult to stop when they have home-court advantage.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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