Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/21/2024

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Venue:  TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Pacers +10, Celtics -10; Over/Under:  222 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Pacers +10, Celtics -10; Over/Under:  222 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Pacers +9.5, Celtics -9.5; Over/Under:  221.5 points

Indiana Pacers:  47-35 (3rd place, Central Division)

Boston Celtics:  64-18 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

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Indiana Pacers:  6-4 last 10

Boston Celtics:  8-2 last 10

The Pacers are entering this game with a 47-35 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 21-20 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the New York Knicks in their last 2 games. In their last game against the Knicks in game 7 of that series, Tyrese Haliburton led the team in points in that game with 26 while Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam each were next on the team with 20 points. T. J. McConnell led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard each led the team in rebounds with 5. They were 67.1% from the field, 54.2% from 3-point range, and 68.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 123.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 120.2 PPG against them. The Pacers have an ATS record of 51-42-3 this season and their O/U record is 50-44-2.

The Celtics are entering this game with a 64-18 record overall to finish the regular season and they were 37-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last 3 games. In their last game against the Cavaliers in game 5 of that series, Jayson Tatum led the team in points in that game with 25 while Al Horford was next on the team with 22 points. Jayson Tatum led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Al Horford led the team in rebounds with 15. They were 48.1% from the field, 41.9% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 120.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 109.2 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 47-40-5 this season and their O/U record is 48-44.

The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as a 10 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 1 of a 7 game series between the 1st seeded Celtics and the 6th seeded Pacers for the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs. The Celtics have looked great in their games all season with their 64-18 record overall which was the best record in the entire NBA. They also had the best home record in the NBA with their 37-4 home record, and they have looked great in the playoffs too, ending both of their series in 5 games. The Pacers have also looked good in the playoffs as they managed to knock out the Bucks in the 1st round and the Knicks in the 2nd round, but the Pacers were also getting a really banged up Bucks team that was missing their star player, and they also had a hobbled Knicks team by the time that series got to game 7. They are also coming off a really emotional win in game 7 at Madison Square Garden so they are going to be due for a let down here, especially since the Celtics are rested having been off for an entire week. The Celtics are going to bring their best effort in this game 1 as they have taken a 1-0 series lead in every round so far, but they will also have some extra motivation in this game since the Pacers were the team to knock the Celtics out of the NBA In-Season Tournament earlier this season. The Celtics are going to show up in a big way on their home court now that it really matters and they will catch the Pacers in a bad situation here off that emotional game 7 road win. The best way to place a bet here is on the Celtics to cover the spread in this game. 

Pacers Celtics Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Tuesday, May 21, 2024 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Celtics 122 Pacers 104.

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Indiana Pacers: 19-31 ATS after a game where they covered the spread. 4-12 ATS after a blowout win by 20 points or more. 3-7 ATS after a game where they made 63% of their shots or better. 8-2 UNDER after a game where they made 63% of their shots or better. 11-5 UNDER after a blowout win by 20 points or more. 

Boston Celtics: 12-6 ATS in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 12-6 ATS when playing with 3 or more days rest. 32-24 ATS after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games. 25-18 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 24-15 UNDER off 2 no-covers where the team won straight up as a favorite. 

Indiana Pacers:  B. Mathurin (SG) out for season - Shoulder.

Boston Celtics:  K. Porzingis (PF) Late May - Calf.

“I just told our team when you win a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden, you’ve made history.” - Rick Carlisle after his team’s win against the Knicks in game 7 of that series on Sunday, winning that series 4-3. 

“It made us answer the bell. Guard your yard. The guys did it. It’s a credit to them.” - Joe Mazzulla after his team’s win against the Cavaliers in game 5 of that series on Wednesday, winning that series 4-1.

PG Tyrese Haliburton

SG Andrew Nembhard

SF Aaron Nesmith 

PF Pascal Siakam 

C Myles Turner

PG Jrue Holiday

SG Derrick White

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Jayson Tatum

C Al Horford

PPG: P. Siakam (21.7)

APG: T. Haliburton (10.9)

Reb/G: P. Siakam (7.1)

PPG: J. Tatum (26.9)

APG: D. White (5.2)

Reb/G: J. Tatum (8.1)

Coaches:

Indiana Pacers: Rick Carlisle (3rd season)

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (2nd season)