Indiana is an excellent defensive team ranking third in the league in fewest points per game and defensive field goal percentage.




Cleveland is underrated defensively. The Cavaliers' defense has improved with the addition of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov.




Neither team, though, has been in great defensive form during the last week so we have a fairly high total.




The Pacers are really struggling offensively, averaging 91 points on 40.9 percent shooting during their last three games. The Pacers make their mark on defense not offense. They have lost and failed to cover in their last three matchups. This is a stop-the-pain game for them.




So I'm anticipating a maximum defensive effort. if you discount an off-game against the Raptors two games ago, the Pacers have given up an average of just 87.7 points per game during their last nine games.




I'm expected a strong defensive effort from Cleveland, too. The Cavaliers know they need to regain their earlier defensive dominance having surrendered 106 or more points in three of their last four games.