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Pacers vs Celtics 2019 NBA Playoffs Odds & Game 2 Prediction

Written by on April 17, 2019

NBA News and Rumors

Those who got on a hot streak over the final few weeks can often parlay that into postseason success, while those who stumbled coming down the stretch often have a tough time turning the switch back on. The Boston Celtics were a little disappointing throughout the season, but they started to turn it up a little in the final couple of weeks, slipping past the Indiana Pacers into the #4 spot, which meant getting home court advantage, which they used to win Game 1 of the series. They will head into Game 2 as a 7 ½ point favorite, with the point total set at 204.

While we spend a lot of time talking about win/loss records and stats as we navigate the NBA regular season, we also have to understand that those records are all wiped out once the playoffs begin. Some teams just seem to be built for the postseason, while others will always struggle, no matter how good they were in the regular season. Where the regular season does come into play a little at this time of the year is when we look at how teams ended it.

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Why bet on the Indiana Pacers?

When you go on the road and hold the home team to just 84 points, you usually end up coming away with the win. That is not what happened in Game 1 of this series, though, as the Pacers went down 84-74 to the Celtics in a real defensive struggle. The Pacers were one of those teams that came into the postseason a little cold, going just 4-6 in their last 10 games of the regular season, and that appeared to carry over into Game 1.

It’s also worth noting that playing on the road was a bit of a struggle for them all year, as they ended up going 3 games below .500 away from home, which included losing both games in Boston in the regular season. The Pacers have now covered just once in their last 4 games and are 11-17 ATS as a road underdog.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Total Score: 107.60
  • Field Goal Percentage: 47.32
  • Three-Point Percentage: 37.24
  • Free Throw Percentage: 74.94
  • Total Rebounds: 43.05

Defense

  • Total Score: 104.43
  • Field Goal Percentage: 44.89
  • Three-Point Percentage: 35.39
  • Free Throw Percentage: 75.63
  • Total Rebounds: 43.83

Why bet on the Boston Celtics?

If you include the opening game of this series, the Boston Celtics have now won 5 of their last 6 games. There was a lot of talk about how disappointing this team was in the regular season, but that will all be forgotten if they can make a run to the NBA Finals. They made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final last year without an injured Kyrie Irving, so expectations are high for them this time around with Irving healthy.

Pacers vs Celtics should be a victory for Boston.

Certainly, if they can put on the sort of defensive masterclass that they did in the opener, they may well be a good bet to go all the way. With the Game 1 win, Boston have now taken 4 straight from the Pacers and are now 21-18 ATS as a home favorite.

Team Stats

Offense
  • Total Score: 112.05
  • Field Goal Percentage: 46.39
  • Three-Point Percentage: 36.47
  • Free Throw Percentage: 80.25
  • Total Rebounds: 44.69

Defense

  • Total Score: 107.54
  • Field Goal Percentage: 44.72
  • Three-Point Percentage: 34.22
  • Free Throw Percentage: 76.14
  • Total Rebounds: 45.83

Pacers vs Celtics 2019 NBA Playoffs Betting Trends

  • Indiana is 7-17 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
  • Indiana is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
  • The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Indiana’s last 12 games on the road
  • Boston is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games at home
  • Boston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
  • The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston’s last 17 games

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Pacers vs Celtics

I don’t think there is any way we see a game as low scoring as the season opener was, but I do think that the Celtics will do enough to get the win in Game 2, covering the spread in the process.

Score: Indiana Pacers 97 – Boston Celtics 109

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