Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers NBA Betting prediction
PublishedJanuary 8, 2024,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:January 8, 2024 , ,

NBA Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Prediction 1/8/2024

The Boston Celtics (28-7) travel to face off against the Indiana Pacers (20-15) on Monday, January 8th. This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Celtics are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Pacers are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pacers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.

Celtics vs Pacers

The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win

The Celtics notched a win against the Pacers in their most recent game, concluding with a score of 118-101. The start of the second half saw the Celtics in the lead, at 58-49.

So far this season, the Celtics are 28-7 overall and have gone 2-1 in their last three games. In Eastern Conference play, they are 22-4 compared to 6-3 in non-conference games.

The Celtics are riding a two game ATS win streak and currently possess an overall ATS record of 17-16. The Celtics maintain an ATS record of 7-10 on the road, while they have a 10-6 record vs. the spread when playing at home.

The Pacers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their most recent matchup, the Pacers conveyed a message to the Celtics with a score of 118-101. Alonside their straight-up loss, the Pacers failed to cover the spread as +7 point underdogs. When it comes to the over/under, the total of 219 points ended up falling short of the over/under line set at 249.

Heading into today’s game against the Celtics, the Pacers are looking to build on their above .500 record of 20-15. In the Eastern Conference, the Pacers are 7th and are 3rd in the Central division.

Indiana currently has an ATS record of 20-15, placing them above .500 against the spread. The Pacers currently have a three game ATS win streak as the favorite and are 10-8 vs. the spread as underdogs.

Celtics Offense Breakdown

Leading up to today’s matchup, the Celtics are one of the NBA’s top offenses, averaging 120.9 points per game (5th). The Celtics come into the game as one of the league’s better 3-point shooting teams, connecting at a rate of 16.1 made 3’s per game. A key to the teams offensive success is their ability to avoid turning the ball over. So far, Boston is ranked 10th in fewest turnovers per game.

Pacers Offense Breakdown

The Pacers arrive for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top offensive teams, scoring an average of 126.8 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 14.6 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

In the current season, the Celtics defense has excelled, sitting 3rd in the NBA by allowing 110.1 points per game. Boston struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Pacers, giving up 13. For the game, Indiana scored 101 points in the game.

Pacers Team Defense

Coming into the game, the Pacers’ defense has finished two straight games with an increased number of points allowed. Overall, they are 29th in the league at 124.2 points per game allowed. When it comes to forced turnovers, the Pacers are forcing 12.7 per game, which is 12th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 5th in blocked shots at 6.3 per game.

Key Players For The Celtics And Pacers

In today’s game, our projections have Jayson Tatum leading the Celtics with 27 points on 9/19 shooting from the field. For the season, he has been averaging 27.5 points per game, in addition to 8.7 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Tyrese Haliburton as the leading scorer for the Pacers. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 22 while also collecting 4 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 49.6%, and his scoring average is 24.2 points per game.

Celtics vs Pacers Trends

  • Although Boston has a straight up record of 5-5 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-5. The team averaged 124 points per game in these games.
  • Across their last three home contests, Indiana has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-0. Their overall mark in these games was 3-0, while averaging 121 points per game.
  • The last ten games that Indiana was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 5-5 straight up.
  • In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Celtics have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.

 

Celtics vs Pacers Prediction

 

The Pacers come in as the underdog at +3.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 244.5, and our model predicts the Celtics and Pacers to score a combined 229 points. We recommend betting on 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.