This is a make or break game for the Pacers' playoff hopes as they trail Chicago by 4 1/2 games with just eight to play.
This also is the team's second meeting in four days. So I'm expecting a tight defensive battle with nobody being taken by surprise. The defenses will know the offenses.
The key, of course, is can these mediocre-to-bad defenses get enough stops to have this total go under.
The Bulls won 112-106 on Saturday at home against the Pacers, but they shot 50.6 percent from the field to get those 112 points.
Historically, Indiana does well defensively versus Chicago at home. The Pacers have held the Bulls to an average of 95.7 points the past six times they've hosted them.
The under also has cashed in 10 of the Pacers' last 11 home contests.
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Indiana (-1.5 -110)
This matchup is the Pacers' season. They trail the Bulls by 4 1/2 games with eight left for the final playoff spot.
Do the Pacers have a shot at the playoffs? No, but they don't want their forlorn hopes to end at home against a team they lost to by six points just four days ago on the road. The Bulls beat the Pacers at the United Center on Saturday, 112-106, shooting 50.6 percent from the floor.
The Pacers have won 15 of their last 20 home games. The Pacers have covered 13 of their last 19 at home. They have defeated Chicago in 18 of their last 21 games at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Pacers are committing less than 13 turnovers per game during their last five matchups. Brandon Rush has stepped up the past couple of games to take the scoring pressure off Danny Granger.
Stephen Nover 3-31-09
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