Indiana Pacers (55-42) vs. Boston Celtics (73-20)
May 23, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Celtics -9; Over/Under: +225.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics meet Thursday in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the TD Garden. Here’s a Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Prediction.
Indiana Pacers Betting Preview
The Indiana Pacers have won 4 of their last 6 games and need a win to even up the series at 1-1. The Pacers are 2-6 SU on the road in these NBA playoffs. The Indiana Pacers are averaging 115.2 points on 50.9 percent shooting and allowing 112.4 points on 46.8 percent shooting. Pascal Siakam is averaging 21.3 points and 7.9 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 19.3 points and 4.9 rebounds. Myles Turner is the third double-digit scorer and Andrew Nembhard is grabbing 3.1 rebounds. The Indiana Pacers are shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc and 73.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Indiana Pacers are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.1 rebounds per game.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Boston Celtics have won 4 straight games and look to take a 2-0 series lead. The Celtics are 5-2 SU at home in these NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics are averaging 110.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting and allowing 99.5 points on 45.8 percent shooting. Jayson Tatum is averaging 25.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown is averaging 23.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. Derrick White is the third double-digit scorer and Jrue Holiday is grabbing 5.2 rebounds. The Boston Celtics are shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc and 79.6 percent from the free throw line. The Boston Celtics are allowing 34.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.7 rebounds per game.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Injury Report
The Pacers will remain without Bennedict Mathurin, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury and hasn’t played since March 5. Kristaps Porzingis continues to deal with a calf injury and hasn’t played since April 29. Porzingis is expected to return by game 4 of this series. Xavier Tillman is questionable for the Celtics with a personal issue.
Why the Boston Celtics will win
- The Celtics have won 17 of their last 18 home games against Central Division opponents.
- The Pacers have lost each of their last six Eastern Conference Finals road games.
- The Pacers have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six Eastern Conference Finals road games.
- The favorites have covered the spread in five of the Pacers’ last six Eastern Conference Finals games.
Boston Celtics Player Facts
- Al Horford ranks 1st amongst qualified Centers for 3P% (41.9%) this season.
- Jaylen Brown ranks T3rd in the league for fast break points (310) this season.
Indiana Pacers Player Facts
- Tyrese Haliburton ranks 1st amongst qualified players for assists per game (10.9) this season.
- T.J. McConnell ranks 1st amongst qualified Guards for FG% (55.6%) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Celtics rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+11.3).
- The Celtics rank T1st in the league for blocks per game this season (6.6).
- The Pacers rank 1st in the league for points per game this season (123.3).
- The Pacers rank 1st in the league for assists per game this season (30.8).
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Prediction
Again, the Boston Celtics are going to be favored for obvious seasons as they’re the better team and at home. The Pacers have also had issues winning on the road in the playoffs. With that said, the Pacers are too explosive offensively to lay these sorts of numbers. The Pacers score too many points on average to get blown out, and honestly they should have won game 1. The Pacers have covered 4 of their last 6 games when underdogs of 9 or more points. The Celtics have failed to cover their last 4 games as favorites of 9 or more points, and one of those failed covers was an outright loss.
Give me the Pacers and the points, just like we had in game 1.
