Pacers vs Celtics AI Picks: Can Indiana Even the Series in Game 2? May 23
In their postseason clash, the Indiana Pacers succumbed to the Boston Celtics with a score of 126-110, thereby amplifying Boston’s lead in the series. Post an initial high-octane encounter where Boston clinched a 133-128 victory, each team has recurrently surpassed the anticipated points tally. The Pacers, boasting a 47-35 season record, commenced as 2-point underdogs yet displayed tenacity, especially in foreign venues where they’ve surpassed betting expectations in their trio of preceding road games.
Jayson Tatum was paramount in Boston’s inaugural triumph, amassing 36 points, thereby laying the groundwork for a fiercely contested series. Observers keeping tabs on Pacers vs Celtics AI Pick should anticipate another round of prolific scoring and tightly contested games.
The Indiana Pacers (47-35) look to even the series against the Boston Celtics (64-18) after a thrilling Game 1 that ended 133-128 in Boston’s favor. Here’s a breakdown with Pacers vs Celtics AI Picks:
High-Scoring Game 1 Sets Stage for Rematch:
- Both teams surpassed the over/under line (222.5) in a close Game 1 with Indiana falling short despite a strong offensive showing (128 points).
- The Pacers have gone over the over/under line in three straight games and boast a strong record as underdogs (27-16 ATS).
Pacers Seek Upset on the Road:
- Indiana enters as a 2-point underdog after covering the spread in three consecutive games.
- On the road this season, the Pacers have a winning record (23-22) and have covered the spread in their last three away games.
Additional Notes:
- Jayson Tatum led Boston in Game 1 with 36 points and 12 rebounds.
- The Pacers have an overall higher scoring average (241.2 points per game) compared to today’s over/under line (224.5 points).
IND vs BOS Information
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics |
Location of the Game: TD Garden, Boston |
Date and Time: Thursday, May 23rd 8:00 ET |
How to watch: watchlivesports.co |
Pacers vs Celtics Odds
Next, we have the NBA odds for this NBA Matchup.
AI Predictions and SportsBettingAI Picks
TEAM | AI PICKS | SportBettingAI PICKS | |||
Pacers | 114 | 229 | IND +9 | BOS -403 | OVER 224.5 |
Celtics | 115 |
- AI Picks: Boston Celtics 115 – Indiana Pacers 114
- SBAI Picks: ATS Pacers +9 | ML Celtics -403 | OVER 224.5
Indiana Pacers Game Analysis
The Indiana Pacers (47-35) head into a high-scoring matchup against the Boston Celtics (64-18) with a lot to prove:
Pacers: High-Powered Offense, Shaky Defense:
- Indiana boasts the NBA’s top-scoring offense (123.3 points per game), with their road average (119.6 points per game) near tonight’s projected total.
- The Pacers lead the league in field goal percentage (50%), showcasing their offensive efficiency.
- However, their scoring defense ranks a lowly 27th in the NBA standings (119.1 points allowed per game), especially on the road (121.2 points allowed).
Key Pacers to Watch:
- Pascal Siakam: Averaging 21 points per game on a scorching 54.2% shooting in his last five games.
- Tyrese Haliburton: Putting up 19.8 points per game with a 41.7% three-point shooting clip over his last five outings.
- Myles Turner: Efficient inside presence, averaging 17.2 points per game on a 64.7% field goal percentage in his last five games.
league leader in assists.
2x All-Star.
All-NBA.Tyrese Haliburton continues to ascend 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/ueFpewbKlU
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2024
Boston Celtics Game Analysis
The Boston Celtics (64-18) boast a stifling defense to counter the Indiana Pacers’ (47-35) offensive firepower:
Celtics: Elite Three-Point Shooting and Stifling Defense:
- Boston boasts the league’s top three-point shooting (38%) and the second-highest scoring offense (120.6 points per game).
- Their defense is a fortress, ranking 3rd in the NBA (108.1 points allowed per game) and even better at home (4th in NBA with 107.4 points allowed).
Key Celtics to Watch:
- Jayson Tatum: Averaging a scorching 30.4 points per game over his last five games.
- Jaylen Brown: Putting up 22.2 points per game with a stellar 55.1% shooting clip in his last five outings.
- Derrick White: A sharpshooter with a 39.6% three-point shooting average this season.
Additional Notes:
- The Celtics are the league leader in free throw defense, allowing just 16.7 made free throws per game.
- They also rank 2nd in the NBA in both overall rebounding and defensive rebounds.
don’t blink 👀 pic.twitter.com/Vvb4kyYXpf
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 23, 2024
Pacers vs Celtics Head-to-Head
While the Boston Celtics (64-18) hold the upper hand in recent meetings (winning 3 of the last 5), the Indiana Pacers (47-35) aim to change the narrative:
Celtics Hold Recent Edge:
- Boston has won 3 of the last 5 meetings between these two NBA teams.
Pacers Hold ATS Advantage Historically:
- Looking at the last 10 Indiana vs Boston matchups, Indiana has a better record against the spread (ATS) at 7-3.
High-Scoring Matchups Expected:
- The last 3 meetings averaged a whopping 259 points, with all 3 games going over the over/under mark.
Can the Pacers overcome recent struggles against Boston and pull off an upset on the road?
NBA Injury Report
According to the NBA injury report, we have the following NBA players out:
Indiana Pacers
- Bennedict Mathurin – Shoulder – Out
Boston Celtics
- Kristaps Porzingis – Calf – Out
- Xavier Tillman Sr. – Personal – Questionable
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