Celtics vs Pacers Odds and Eastern Finals Prediction

Likely most of the country wanted to see a Knicks–Celtics Eastern Conference Finals in the NBA, but the Indiana Pacers were having none of that as they upset New York in their semifinal series.

Indiana is in the East Finals for the first time since 2014.

The Pacers came back from down 0-2 in their series — the first time the franchise has ever surmounted such a deficit in a seven-game series. Neither the Knicks or Pacers had lost a home game before Game 7, and the Pacers remain the only team undefeated at home in the playoffs at 6-0. The Pacers’ 130 points also matched a franchise playoff NBA record for most points in a playoff game.

The Knicks were just so banged up by that point, including superstar Jalen Brunson having to leave in the third quarter after fracturing his hand. So even if the Knicks had won somehow, they would have been massacred in this round by Boston without Brunson.

The brief return of OG Anunoby did not impact Siakam as the Knicks forward could barely move due to his strained hamstring.

Turner added 17 points, five rebounds and four blocks. After blocking two shots total in the series’ first two games, Turner turned things up a notch as far as the rim protection was concerned. He had at least two in the final five games. With Boston unlikely to have Kristaps Porzingis for the first two games, Turner establishing his presence in the middle would go a long way toward helping the Pacers win a game in Boston. Off the bench, TJ McConnell was once again excellent, flying all over the floor on his way to 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds, and a steal.

Indiana finished 53-of-79 from the field ( 13-for-35 from 3-point range), assisting on 33 baskets, while the Knicks shot 42.4 percent. The Pacers won the critical rebounding margin 33-28 and points in the paint differential 52-38.

By advancing to the Eastern Finals, the Pacers will also be playing late enough in May to overlap with the Indianapolis 500 for the first time since 2014. The schedule couldn’t work out any better for Indiana fans, as the Pacers will host Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, the 108th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be on Sunday, and then Game 4 will be on Monday night at the Fieldhouse.

Boston Celtics Betting Odds -250

The Celtics have been off since eliminating Cleveland in Game 5 of their semifinal series, 113-98 last Wednesday.

So if the Pacers really have any shot here, they better win a few games while Porzingis is out. The Pacers, who struggled mightily at times to keep the Knicks off the offensive glass, may have that problem against the Celtics, too. Indiana ranked 26th in defensive rebound rate during the regular season.

Boston is in the East Finals for the sixth time in the last eight years. With defending NBA champion Denver eliminated in the West finals, the C’s are now the clear favorites to win it all. Tatum is the +120 favorite for Finals MVP.

Pacers vs Celtics Season Series

Boston won the regular season series 3-2 — the Pacers eliminated the Celtics in the quarterfinal round of the In-Season Tournament in December — but the teams haven’t played since Jan. 30 in Beantown when the Celtics won 129-124. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and had two blocks in the final 30 seconds for the Celtics.