By Don Phillips
Indiana Pacers at Golden State Warriors
Friday, January 22, 2016
Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Golden State has not won a season series against Indiana since 2000-01 (2-0). In their first meeting this season on Dec. 8, Golden State scored 79 points in the first half–the highest score first half in the NBA this season–en route to a 131-123 road win.
The Warriors have set a franchise record with 37-straight regular-season home wins (19-straight this season, 18-straight last season), just the fourth team in NBA history to win at least 37 consecutive regular-season games at home. Golden State has not lost at home since an overtime defeat on Jan. 27, 2015 vs. Chicago.
The Warriors are 19-0 at home to start the season, setting a record for the franchise’s best home start (previous: 12-0 in 1975-76).
At 38-4 (.905 ) this season, the Warriors are the fourth team in NBA history to earn at least 38 wins in the season’s first 42 games (the 1971-72 L.A. Lakers and 1995-96 Chicago Bulls had 38 wins, while the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers had 37).
Golden State’s .857 winning percentage in the 2015 calendar year (72-12) was the second-best in a calendar year in NBA history.
Golden State began the 2015-16 campaign with a 24-0 ledger, the best start to a season in NBA history (previously held by the 1948-49 Washington Capitals and 1993-94 Houston Rockets, who both began the respective seasons with a 15-0 mark).
The Warriors won 28 consecutive regular-season games (24-straight to begin 2015-16, four-straight to end 2014-15) from 4/9/15 to 12/11/15, the second-longest winning streak in NBA history (trailing only the 1971-72 Lakers, who won 33-straight).
Golden State leads the NBA in points per game (114.3), assists per game (28.7), threes per game (12.8), three-point percentage (.425), fast break points (20.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.86). The Warriors rank second in field goal percentage (.486), defensive rebounds per game (36.1) and point differential (+11.7).
Golden State also leads the NBA in Offensive Rating (112.4), which measures the points scored by a team per 100 possessions, and ranks third in Defensive Rating (99.0), which measures the points allowed by a team per 100 possessions. The Warriors are second in Net Rating (13.3), which is the difference between Offensive and Defensive Rating.
After dishing out 30-plus assists a league-leading and franchise-record 28 times in 2014-15, the Warriors lead the NBA with 20 such games this season. Golden State is averaging a league-best 28.7 assists per game, only 15 teams in NBA history have averaged at least 29 assists per game over the course of a season.
The Warriors lead the league with 12.8 threes per game, averaging two more three’s per game than the next best three-point shooting team, and lead the league in three-point percentage. Golden State established an NBA record with 15 first-half threes on Nov. 27 at Phoenix before setting a franchise-mark with 22 threes in the game (one shy of the NBA record). The Warriors have hit at least 15 threes in a league-best 16 games this season.
America’s Bookie has the Warriors a 13-point favorite for this one with the number set at 217½. Have a look at A1 Service Plays if you’re looking for service plays and picks from professional handicappers.
Selection: Golden State Over
