2024 NBA bets, lines and stats for Wednesday - ESPN

With only six games, the first Wednesday slate post All-Star Break is a bit lighter than usual. Nevertheless, we have some interesting matchups on the docket and some opportunities to find players and teams likely to outproduce expectation. Let's lock in, and identify some of those angles for tonight's games.

New Orleans Pelicans (+5.5) over Indiana Pacers (-110).

The Pacers have played well of late, winning three of their past four games and six of their past 10, but the Pelicans have won five of their past seven games and nine of their past 12. The Pacers play up-tempo and can put points up in a hurry, but the Pelicans are seventh in the NBA in team Defensive Rating (113.1 points allowed per 100 possessions) and have shooters of their own to stay with them. According to the ESPN Analytics game predictor, the Pacers should be favored, but by only 2.5 points.

RJ Barrett over 20.5 points (-115).

Barrett has missed five games since Jan. 28 due to injury, but when he plays full minutes, he's pretty sure to score over 20 points. In the past eight games when Barrett has played at least 30 minutes, he has scored more than 20.5 points seven times with an average of 22.4 PPG.

He just dropped 24 points in 33 minutes in a win against the Pacers on Monday, and will be facing a Dallas Mavericks team on the second half of a back-to-back.

Cleveland Cavaliers (-4.5) over Chicago Bulls (-115).

The Cavaliers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in the New Year, winning 20 of their past 24 games including an amazing buzzer-beating win Tuesday over a strong Mavericks squad. The Bulls rely on their shooting to be competitive, but flirted with NBA history last night, missing 27 of their 29 3-point attempts against the Detroit