celtics vs pacers nba betting
PublishedJanuary 6, 2024,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:January 6, 2024

NBA: Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Prediction 1/6/2024

The Boston Celtics (27-7) travel to face off against the Indiana Pacers (20-14) on Saturday, January 6th. This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.

Celtics vs Pacersindiana pacers

The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win

The Celtics’ most recent matchup against the Jazz saw Jayson Tatum lead the Celtics with 30 points while shooting 6/12 from the field. Kristaps Porzingis also contributed 19 points as the Celtics won by a score of 126-97 vs. the Jazz.

In their last five games, the Celtics are 4-1 and have an overall record of 27-7. When playing on the road, the Celtics are 10-7 compared to their 17-0 record at home this season.

Boston possesses a .500 ATS record for the season, sitting at 16-16 ATS. On the road, the Celtics have an ATS record of 6-10 compared to a 10-6 record vs. the spread at home.

The Pacers Are Coming Off A Win

The Pacers’ most recent matchup against the Hawks saw Myles Turner lead the Pacers with 27 points while shooting 10/14 from the field. As the Pacers secured the victory with a final score of 150-116, Bennedict Mathurin also chipped in with 18 points.

When you look at the Pacers’ record in their last ten games, they are 7-3 and have an overall record of 20-14 as they get ready to face the Celtics. When playing at home, the Pacers are 11-7 compared to their 9-7 mark on the road this season.

Indiana currently has an ATS record of 20-14, placing them above .500 against the spread. The Pacers are in the midst of a three game ATS win streak as underdogs, and they come in with a 10-7 record against the spread as favorites.

Celtics Offense Breakdown

The Celtics arrive for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top offensive teams, scoring an average of 121 points per game (5th). When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Celtics are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 98.6 per contest. One thing to keep an eye on is if the Celtics will be able to maintain their current level of scoring. Not only does the team tend to play a slower style of basketball, but they are just 26th in shots made inside the arc.

Pacers Offense Breakdown

Today, the Pacers enter the game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring teams, averaging 127.6 points per game (1st). The Pacers come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 14.8 made 3’s per game. A key to the teams offensive success is their ability to avoid turning the ball over. So far, Indiana is ranked 12th in fewest turnovers per game.

Celtics Team Defense

Boston’s defense has been playing well, ranking 3rd in the NBA with 110.4 points allowed per game. The Boston defense has allowed opponents to shoot 36.3% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 44.9% of their field goal attempts vs. Boston.

Pacers Team Defense

The Pacers’ defense is presently ranked 29th in the league, allowing an average of 124.4 points per contest. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Pacers squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 56.0% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 37.6% from downtown.

Key Players For The Celtics And Pacers

For today’s matchup, we project Jayson Tatum to lead the scoring for the Celtics, putting up 26 points and shooting at a rate of 9/19. This season, he is averaging 27.1 points per game along with 8.5 boards.

As for Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton is projected to be the primary scorer for the Pacers. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 22, and adding 3 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 50.3%, and he is contributing 24.4 points per game on average.

Celtics vs Pacers Trendsboston celtics

  • Through their last ten road contests, the Celtics offense has averaged 122 points per game while allowing an average of 115. Boston posted an overall record of 5-5 while going 4-6 ATS.
  • Across their last five home contests, Indiana has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2, while averaging 115 points per game.
  • The Pacers have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.
  • In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 4-1, while going 2-3 against the spread.

Celtics vs Pacers Prediction

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +5.5, the Pacers is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 247 and given that our model is projecting 232 points between the teams, we like the under.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.