Washington Wizards +2.5 (spread)

Indiana are without Tyrese Haliburton with a left hamstring strain and list T.J. McConnell as questionable with a right hamstring strain — that is their first-choice point guard out and his understudy in doubt, with Ben Sheppard and Johnny Furphy also unavailable. Washington's four absentees are fringe rotation pieces by comparison, and I make this close to a coin flip.

The risk is that Indiana still have home court and the deeper starting five, and if McConnell plays they can control the tempo. With the points in hand I do not need Washington to win, just to keep it within a possession. The bet: Washington Wizards +2.5.