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Making on a bet on this NBA game featuring the Celtics versus the Pacers? Tip off is at at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NBCS. The game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. In this Eastern matchup, the Celtics are the betting favorite against the Pacers. The over/under for the game is 244.5 points.

BOSTON CELTICS VS INDIANA PACERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Indiana Pacers +3.5

This game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7:00 ET on Monday, January 8th.

WHY BET THE INDIANA PACERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 116-113 in favor of the Pacers.
  • Our projections have Tyrese Haliburton finishing with Tyrese Haliburton points, 4 rebounds and 11 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Pacers finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.1% and knocking down 16 threes.

Are the Celtics Ready for a Win at Indianapolis?

As the Celtics get ready to take on the Pacers, they are sitting in 1st place in the Eastern Conference. Overall, Boston is 28-7 this season and have put together back-to-back wins.

When playing on the road, the Celtics have been dominant all season long, as they have yet to lose a game. Going into today's matchup, Boston's average scoring margin on the road is +6.8 points per game. For the season, they have gone 11-7 ATS on the road.

So far, the Celtics have been the favorite in 33 of their 35 games, putting together a record of 26-7. When favored, their average scoring margin is +10.4 points per game, and they have gone 15-16 ATS as the favorite.

Out of the Celtics' 35 games, 33 of them have had lower over/under lines than today's line of 244.5. Boston's average OU line for the season is 229.6. The team's over/under record for the season is 19-16, but the under has hit in two straight games. The Celtics have also had two straight games fail to surpass their OU lines.

In the Celtics' most recent game, they scored 118 points against the Pacers. They shot 51.1% from the field and made 16 threes. Over their last three games, the Celtics have an effective field goal percentage of 55.9%, which is slightly lower than their season-long EFG of 57% (4th). In their five most recent games, the Celtics are shooting 38.1% from three, which ranks 17th in the league.

Not only do the Celtics' overall defensive numbers look good, as they are 3rd in the league in points allowed. Boston has also been playing well on defense of late, ranking 19th in the league over their last three games at 108.3 PPG allowed. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Celtics defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 51.1% while allowing 35.8% from downtown.

Can Indiana Grab a Win at Home?

Heading into today's game, the Pacers are the 3.5-point underdogs at home vs. the Celtics. Before we look at their overall stats, their straight-up record of 20-15, it's time to take a look at how they have performed vs. the spread as the underdog. So far, they have an average scoring margin of -4.4 points per game as the underdog, leading to a record of 10-8 vs. the spread in these games.

When looking at the Eastern Conference standings, the Pacers are in 7th place and sit 3rd in the Central Division. Against other teams in the East, Indiana has gone 17-11 compared to 3-4 in non-conference matchups.

When playing at home, the Pacers have put together an average scoring margin of +7.3 points per game this season (+/- 11-8 at home). Their ATS record at home is also positive, as they are 11-8 ATS. Of their 35 games, Indiana has been the underdog 18 times this season and has a record of 10-8.

Indiana's over/under record coming into today's game is 24-11, and 19 of their games have had lower over/under lines than today's line of 244.5. The Pacers' average over/under line for the season has been 243.9 points. Their over/under record in games with higher over/under lines than 244.5 is 10-6.

In their last game vs. the Celtics, the Pacers scored 101 points. Overall, they shot 41.3% from the field and made 8 three-pointers. The Pacers were led in scoring by Bennedict Mathurin, who had 20 points. Tyrese Haliburton also chipped in 17 points.

Looking at the Pacers defense, they will be looking for a better performance considering they are currently conceding 124.2 points per game (29th). So far this season, the Pacers' defense has struggled with fouls, averaging 2nd in fouls per contest. On average, opponents are getting to the line 27.3 times per game vs. Indiana.