When it comes to picking divisional and conference winners in professional sports, it is fair to suggest that things tend to be a little easier in the NBA. We all know which teams are likely to dominate, as past history has shown us that we are realistically looking at just 3, or maybe 4, teams who have the talent and ability to win it all. This season is proving to be a little more difficult to predict, as we have tight races in both conferences, which includes a few teams that are a whole lot better than we expected them to be.
When one team rises, another one tends to fall, and in the Eastern Conference, it is the Boston Celtics who is a whole lot further off the pace than we expected them to be. They are actually chasing their Wednesday night opponent, the Indiana Pacers, sitting 2 ½ games behind them in the conference. Boston needs to start closing that gap, which they will attempt to do as a 6 ½ point favorite. The point total for this one is set at 214.
Pacers at Celtics NBA Week 13 Odds & Analysis
McMillan: “We got the win, but we’re better than that and we know it. … We almost dropped a game that we had total control over.” #Pacers pic.twitter.com/52m0MlgmCF
— FOX Sports Indiana (@FSIndiana) 9 de enero de 2019
- When: Wednesday, January 9 at 7 PM EST
- Where: TD Garden, Boston
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Week 13 Odds: Boston Celtics -6.5 (Total 215)
Why bet on the Indiana Pacers?
The Indiana Pacers are chugging along very nicely in the #3 spot in the Eastern Conference, just 2 ½ games out of the top spot. One thing that they have done very well this year remains as consistent on the road as they are at home, going a respectable 13-8 in games played away from home.
The Pacers have won 7 of their last 10 games, but they have had very little success in Boston over the years, winning just 7 of their last 23 visits to the Garden. This is a team that is on a streak of 4 straight games where they have failed to cover the spread. They are 8-6 ATS as the underdog this season, which includes being 5-6 ATS as the road dog. Where bettors have been able to make money with this team of late is in the point total, with each of their last 6 games going OVER.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 108.12
- Field Goal Percentage: 48.20
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.98
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.46
- Total Rebounds: 43.60
Defense
- Total Score: 102.28
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.13
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.01
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.80
- Total Rebounds: 42.50
Why bet on the Boston Celtics?
It is more than a little surprising to see the Boston Celtics 5 games out of the lead and down in the #5 spot as we hit the midway mark of the NBA season. The biggest issue for Boston this season has been their play on the road, where they are just a .500 team. They have not had those types of issues in their own building, going 14-5 to this point in the season.
Over the course of the year, the Celtics have gone 18-13 ATS when in as the favorite, which includes being 13-5 ATS as a home favorite. They are currently on a streak that has seen them cover the spread in each of their last 3 games. While their last 2 games have gone under, 7 of their last 10 have gone OVER, with 11 of their 19 home games going that same route.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.90
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.79
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.62
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.90
- Total Rebounds: 45.21
Defense
- Total Score: 105.28
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.20
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.99
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.48
- Total Rebounds: 45.46
Pacers at Celtics NBA Week 13 Betting Trends
- Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Indiana is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana’s last 5 games
- Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games at home
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Pacers at Celtics
I think we are looking at another Celtics win at home court, and I also believe that Boston will cover the spread, albeit by the very slimmest of margins. I see this one going the way of the UNDER.
Score: Indiana Pacers 101 – Boston Celtics 108.
