Prediction: Indiana Pacers VS New Orleans Pelicans 2025-07-18

NBA Summer League 2025: Indiana Pacers vs. New Orleans Pelicans – A Tale of Two Nets

Ladies and gentlemen, grab your popcorn and a cold Gatorade (or whatever hydrates your spirit), because we’re diving into a Summer League clash that’s less “March Madness” and more “July Doldrums.” The Indiana Pacers, fresh off a 114-105 loss to the Bulls that probably left their fans muttering, “Is that a slow motion game?”, face the New Orleans Pelicans, who just edged the Nets 97-93. Let’s break this down with the precision of a ref who’s finally seen the replay.

Parsing the Odds: Pelicans Favor, Pacers in Peril
The Pelicans are the clear favorites here, with decimal odds hovering around 1.56-1.59 (implying a 60-62% implied probability of victory). The Pacers, meanwhile, are priced at 2.45-2.50, suggesting bookmakers think they’ve got about a 29-33% chance to pull off an upset. That’s a gap wider than the Mississippi River, folks.

The spread? The Pelicans are -4.0 to -4.5, meaning they’re expected to win by a bucket or two. The total is set at 186.5 points, which feels low given the Pacers’ 219-point explosion against the Bulls and the Pelicans’ 190-point tussle with the Nets. But hey, maybe someone told these teams, “Summer’s short—let’s not burn out the rookies.”

Digesting the News: Pacers Stumble, Pelicans Soar
The Pacers come in with a taste of defeat, losing to the Bulls in a game that might’ve been more entertaining if they’d played chess in between quarters. Their offense? A jalopy with a flat tire and a GPS set to “confuse.” The Pelicans, though, are the smooth operator here—winning their opener with the tenacity of a cat after a laser pointer. They’re not blowing the Nets out, but they’re efficient, disciplined, and, most importantly, not Indiana.

Oh, and let’s not forget the Arizona Wildcats connection! The Pelicans have Trey Townsend, who’s probably thinking, “Why am I in New Orleans? Shouldn’t I be in the desert with my cactus friends?” But Townsend’s on a team that’s 2-0 in Summer League, so maybe he’s starting to forget about Tucson.

Humorous Spin: Pacers Move Like a Cornfield in a Drought
The Pacers’ offense is like a Indiana cornfield during a heatwave—slow, methodical, and praying for rain. They lost to the Bulls, a team that’s basically the NBA’s version of a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are the smooth jazz of basketball—unhurried, precise, and occasionally dropping a three-pointer to make you question your life choices.

And let’s talk about that spread. The Pelicans are -4, which is about the same as the number of times the Pacers have looked threatening this season. If this were a movie, the Pelicans would be the cool cousin who always wins the family trivia night, while the Pacers are the one still arguing about the rules of Monopoly.

Prediction: Pelicans Net the Win, Pacers Net a Lesson in Humility
Putting it all together, the Pelicans have the edge in recent form, favorable odds, and a defense that doesn’t look like it’s made of Swiss cheese (unlike the Pacers’ effort against the Bulls). The Pacers could pull off an upset if Townsend channels his inner Wildcat and starts blocking shots like they’re trying to stop a flood, but the numbers aren’t kind to that fantasy.

Final Verdict: Bet on the Pelicans (-4) to cover the spread and win outright. The total? Take the Under 186.5—these teams aren’t exactly the NBA’s version of Honey, I Shrunk the Point Totals.

In the end, it’s a Pelicans’ party, and the Pacers are just here to clean up the confetti. Go Pelicans—now go fix your roster for next year, Indiana.

Created: July 18, 2025, 5:56 p.m. GMT

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