Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/24/2023

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, March 24, 2023

Venue:  TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  NBA TV

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Pacers +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  234.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Pacers +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  234.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Pacers +11.5, Celtics -11.5; Over/Under:  234.5 points

Indiana Pacers:  33-40 (4th place, Central Division)

Boston Celtics:  50-23 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

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Indiana Pacers:  5-5 last 10

Boston Celtics:  5-5 last 10

The Pacers are coming into this game with a 33-40 record overall and they are 14-23 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off of a win against the Toronto Raptors in their last game. Andrew Nembhard led the team in points in that game with 25 while Myles Turner was next on the team with 16 points. Andrew Nembhard led the team in assists in that game with 10 while Myles Turner led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 55.8% from the field, 52.4% from 3-point range, and 84% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 115.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 118.2 PPG against them. The Pacers have an ATS record of 39-34 this season and their O/U record is 37-35-1.

The Celtics are coming into this game with a 50-23 record overall and they are 26-9 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off of a win against the Sacramento Kings in their last game. Jayson Tatum led the team in points in that game with 36 while Jaylen Brown was next on the team with 27 points. Derrick White led the team in assists in that game with 11 while Jayson Tatum led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 53.3% from the field, 40.9% from 3-point range, and 69.6% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 112.2 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 39-34 this season and their O/U record is 37-34-2.

The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as an 11.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Celtics are 50-23 overall this season and they were the best team in the East for a good majority of the season but are now in 2nd place as the Bucks have passed them. They have still been a great team though and are 26-9 in their home games this season. The Pacers have been falling off ever since dealing with some key injuries as they are now only 33-40 overall and haven't been great in road games either with their 14-23 road record. They did get a big win in Toronto in their last game while missing these key pieces in their starting lineup but now they have one of the best teams in the NBA coming up in this game and the Celtics are fully healthy right now as they try to chase down the Bucks for the number 1 seed. The Celtics are fighting for that number 1 seed in the East and they will keep pushing themselves to the end of the season as they try to get that number 1 seed back for the playoffs. 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 Friday, March 24, 2023 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Celtics 122 Pacers 101.

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Indiana Pacers: 14-5 ATS as an underdog of 10 or more points. 10-5 ATS against Atlantic division opponents. 30-18 OVER against Atlantic division opponents.

Boston Celtics: 13-22 ATS after playing a road game. 22-31 ATS after a blowout win by 15 points or more. 18-8 OVER as a favorite of 10 or more points.

Indiana Pacers:  T. Haliburton (PG) Early April - Ankle. C. Duarte (SG) Ques Fri - Ankle. K. Brown (SG) out for season - Shin.

Boston Celtics:  P. Pritchard (PG) Out indefinitely - Heel. D. Gallinari (SF) out for season - Knee.

“For it to happen in Toronto, it’s pretty cool. All three of those guys played well. Nembhard had a great game. Mathurin was terrific. I thought Brissett did what he does. He gave us energy, rebounded, he scored the first five points of the game. That was great.” - Rick Carlisle after his team’s win against the Raptors in their game on Wednesday.

“He just did a great job coming out of the gate. I thought him and Jaylen did a great job controlling the game with their decision-making.” - Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum after his team’s win against the Kings in their game on Tuesday.

PG T.J. McConnell

SG Andrew Nembhard 

SF Buddy Hield

PF Aaron Nesmith

C Myles Turner

PG Marcus Smart

SG Jaylen Brown

SF Jayson Tatum

PF Al Horford

C Robert Williams III

PPG: T. Haliburton (20.8)

APG: T. Haliburton (10.4)

Reb/G: M. Turner (7.5)

PPG: J. Tatum (30.1)

APG: M. Smart (6.4)

Reb/G: J. Tatum (8.9)

Coaches:

Indiana Pacers: Rick Carlisle (2nd season)

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (1st season)