Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Preview
Heading into game four of this Eastern Conference Finals matchup, the top-seeded Celtics lead the 6th-seeded Pacers 3-0. The game is set for 8:00 PM ET on Monday, May 27th, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Celtics are favored by -7.5, and the over/under is 222.5 points.
Check out BetCoco for Indiana Pacers – Boston Celtics odds
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The last three times that the Celtics have faced off vs. the Pacers as the favorite, they have gone 3-0. The last three times that the Pacers have hosted the Celtics, the over/under record is 3-0 with the teams combining for an average of 236 points. The over/under record in their last three overall matchups is 3-0.
- Through their last three road contests, the Celtics offense has averaged 109 points per game while allowing an average of 102. Boston posted an overall record of 3-0 while going 1-2 ATS.
- In their last three home games, Indiana has averaged 122 points per game while allowing 122. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Pacers have a straight up record of 3-7. Their record vs the spread in these games was 6-4.
- In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 3-0, while going 1-2 against the spread.
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Prediction
The Celtics picked up a 114-111 win over the Pacers in the most recent game of this series. Indiana covered the spread (+7), and the over/under line was surpassed by 4.5 points. The Celtics were outscored 38-25 in the 2nd quarter, but they bounced back in the 4th with a 33-21 advantage.
Offensively, the Pacers shot 50.5% from the field, while the Celtics made 47% of their shots from the field. Boston hit 16 threes, and the Pacers made just five. Jayson Tatum was the game’s leading scorer with 36 points, and Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 32 points.
In their most recent game, the Celtics defeated the Pacers by a score of 114-111. The over/under line for that game was 220.5 points.
Boston has a 48-43 ATS record this season, going 22-22 ATS on the road. They have failed to cover the spread in their last two road games.
Looking at their O/U record, the Celtics are 51-43-1 for the season. The over has hit in their last five games, and today’s O/U line is set at 222.5.
The Celtics have an average scoring differential of +11.9 points per game when they are favored. As the favorite, they have a record of 73-18 this season and have won six straight games as the favorite.
Boston is currently 1st in the Eastern Conference with a record of 64-18. In non-conference games, they are 23-7 compared to 41-11 against the East. On the road, the Celtics are 32-14.
Looking at the Celtics’ offense this season, they are the top-scoring team in terms of three-point shooting, at 16.5 made threes per game. They have also been efficient from beyond the arc, with a three-point shooting percentage of 38%. Overall, the Celtics are averaging 120.6 points per game, which is the 2nd best mark in the league.
Jayson Tatum has averaged 30.6 points per game in his last five games, while hitting 48.2% of his shots from the field. In these games, he averaged 9.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Jaylen Brown has averaged 25.6 points per game in the team’s last five games, while connecting on 52.8% of his shots from the field.
Despite being ranked just 28th in the league in steals per game, the Celtics are 4th in the league in points allowed per game. They are also 2nd in the league in rebounds per game, and 2nd in blocked shots per game. Boston is also 1st in the league in made free throws allowed per game. Over their last five games, the Celtics are 9th in the league in three-point shooting percentage allowed.
On the season, opponents have scored less than their season average against Boston in 79.3% of their games. Also, opposing teams have made fewer threes than their season average in 62.2% of their games vs. the Celtics.
For the season, Boston is 3rd in the league in field goal percentage allowed, and 3rd in two-point shooting percentage allowed. However, they are just 14th in three-point shooting percentage allowed.
Indiana has gone 47-35 this season and is currently 6th in the Eastern Conference. In games vs. the East, they are 32-20 compared to 15-15 against the West.
As the underdog, the Pacers have lost three straight games and are 23-24 overall as the underdog. Today, they are getting 7.5 points. This season, they are 28-17 vs. the spread as the underdog.
The Pacers’ O/U record for the season is 54-44, and the over has hit in their last five games. On average, their games have finished with 241 points compared to today’s O/U line of 222.5.
In their most recent game, the Pacers lost to the Celtics by a score of 114-111. Indiana covered the spread as 7-point underdogs, and the O/U line for the game was 220.5.
Indiana’s average scoring margin at home this season is +7.6 points per game. Against the spread at home, they are 27-20 and have covered the spread in three straight games.
Indiana comes into the game as the league’s top-scoring offense, averaging 123.3 points per game. They have been even better at home, putting up 124.4 points per contest. Looking at their field goal percentage, the Pacers have hit 50% of their shots from the field, which is the best mark in the league. Their two-point field goal percentage of 58% is also the best in the NBA.
Pascal Siakam has averaged 23.8 points per game over the Pacers’ last five games, hitting 56.4% of his shots from the field. Andrew Nembhard is at 19 points per game in that stretch on a field goal percentage of 56.9%. Myles Turner has hit 59.6% of his shots in his last five games and is averaging 17.4 points per game. Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists for the season but is questionable with a hamstring injury.
When it comes to points allowed, the Indiana Pacers have struggled this season, ranking 27th in the NBA at 119.1 points per game. This is a trend that has continued at home, where they are giving up 116.8 points per game (25th).
One area where the Pacers have excelled defensively is defending the three-point line. On the season, they are the top-ranked team in three-point shooting percentage allowed (36.6%). This has been a consistent trend, as opposing teams have made fewer threes than their season average in 93.9% of games vs. Indiana.
Overall, Indiana’s defense has been solid at blocking shots (8th) and getting steals (17th). However, they have struggled on the boards, ranking 28th in rebounds per game and defensive rebounds.
In spite of being 7.5 point underdogs, we anticipate the Pacers winning this one 114-113.
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips
- We like the Pacers on the moneyline (+239)
- The Pacers are also our pick on the spread at +7.5
- Projecting a combined 227 points, we like the over
Indiana Pacers Injury Report
- Tyrese Haliburton – Hamstring – Questionable
- Bennedict Mathurin – Shoulder – Out
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Jrue Holiday – Illness – Questionable
- Kristaps Porzingis – Calf – Out
- Luke Kornet – Wrist – Questionable
