The Boston Celtics are 9.5-point favorites heading into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup’s over/under is set at 223.
Celtics vs. Pacers Odds
How to Bet on Celtics vs. Pacers
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Celtics vs. Pacers?
Celtics and Pacers Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
The Celtics have an 18-13-2 record against the spread this season when favored by 9.5 points or more.
When they have played as at least 9.5-point underdogs this year, the Pacers are 1-2 against the spread.
The two teams average a combined 20.9 more points per game, 243.9, than this game’s total of 223 points.
Opponents of the two teams average a combined 6.4 more points per game, 229.4, than this matchup’s total of 223 points.
The average total the Celtics have had in their games this year is 6.8 more points than this particular game’s point total.
The average over/under for Indiana’s games this year is 20.5 more points than the point total of 223 for this outing.
Boston is 42-36-4 against the spread this season.
The Pacers are 44-35-3 against the spread this season.
Celtics Stats & Insights
The Celtics outscore opponents by 11.4 points per game (scoring 120.6 points per game to rank second in the league while giving up 109.2 per outing to rank fifth in the NBA) and have a +930 scoring differential overall.
The 46.3 rebounds per game the Celtics average rank second in the NBA, and are 3.0 more than the 43.3 their opponents collect per contest.
Boston connects on 16.5 three-pointers per game (first in the league) while shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc (second-best in the NBA). It is making 3.6 more threes per contest than its opponents, who drain 12.9 per game while shooting 35.2%.
The Celtics rank first in the NBA with 124.1 points scored per 100 possessions, and third in the league defensively with 112.4 points conceded per 100 possessions.
So far in 2023-24, the Celtics’ offense has been significantly better at home, where they average 123.1 points per game, compared to road games, where they record 118.0 per game. Defensively, they have been tougher when playing at home, where they concede 107.9 points per game, versus on the road, where they allow their opponents to score 110.5 per game.
Pacers Stats & Insights
The Pacers outscore opponents by 3.1 points per game (posting 123.3 points per game, first in league, and conceding 120.2 per contest, 27th in NBA) and have a +250 scoring differential.
Indiana loses the rebound battle by 1.9 boards on average. It collects 41.5 rebounds per game, 28th in the league, while its opponents pull down 43.4.
The Pacers make 13.2 three-pointers per game (10th in the league), 2.5 more than their opponents.
The Pacers put up 121.9 points per 100 possessions (second in league), while conceding 118.9 points per 100 possessions (24th in NBA).
Indiana is putting up more points at home (125.5 per game) than away (121.0).
Celtics Key Players to Watch
Jayson Tatum averages 26.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, with 4.9 assists.
Derrick White’s averages this season are 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.
Tatum leads active Celtics in three-point shooting, knocking down an average of 3.1 shots per game from beyond the arc.
Jaylen Brown averages 1.2 steals per game, while White has 1.2 blocks per contest.
Pacers Key Players to Watch
Pascal Siakam is at the top of the Pacers scoring and rebounding leaderboards with 21.7 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game to go with 4.3 assists per contest this season.
Tyrese Haliburton’s per-game averages this season are 20.1 points, 10.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds.
Haliburton hits 2.8 threes per game.
The Pacers’ defensive effort gets a boost from Haliburton’s 1.2 steals and Myles Turner’s 1.9 blocks per game.
Celtics vs. Pacers Prediction
Over (223)
Celtics 123 – Pacers 111