After nearly stealing Game 1, the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers will look to knot the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1 when they take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics in Game 2 on Thursday. After forcing overtime, Boston rebounded to post a 133-128 win on Tuesday. The Pacers (47-35), who have won two of the past three postseason series against Boston, are 2-0 in Game 2 matchups in the 2024 NBA playoffs. The Celtics (64-18), who are 4-2 at home during the playoffs, have won four of six meetings with Indiana this year. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains out for Boston.
The game from TD Garden in Boston will tip off at 8 p.m. ET. The Pacers are averaging a league-best 115.2 points per game this postseason, while the Celtics average 110.4, second-best. Boston is an 8.5-point favorite in the latest Pacers vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Before making any Celtics vs. Pacers picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the conference finals in the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Pacers vs. Celtics and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the NBA betting lines and trends for Pacers vs. Celtics:
- Pacers vs. Celtics spread: Boston -8.5
- Pacers vs. Celtics over/under: 225.5 points
- Pacers vs. Celtics money line: Indiana +303, Boston -385
- IND: The Pacers have hit the fourth-quarter game total under in 47 of their last 70 games (+20.40 units)
- BOS: The Celtics have hit the first-half money line in 35 of their last 41 games (+28.30 units)
- Pacers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Shooting guard Derrick White nearly posted a double-double in Game 1, scoring 15 points, while adding nine assists and six rebounds. He has been solid this postseason, and had an 18-point, six-assist and five-rebound performance in the Game 5 win over the Cavaliers. He has reached double-digit scoring in 10 of 11 playoff games. His best game was a 38-point, four-rebound, three-assist and three-block performance in a 102-88 Game 4 first-round win at Miami. In 11 postseason matchups, he is averaging 17.9 points, 4.3 assists and four rebounds.
Point guard Jrue Holiday was on fire in Game 1, pouring in 28 points, while adding eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. In 11 games, all starts, he is averaging 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 38.1 minutes of action this postseaon. In the Game 5 closeout win over Cleveland, he scored 13 points, while adding four assists and three rebounds. He played well during the regular season against the Pacers as in five games, he averaged 14 points, six rebounds, 4.4 assists and one block. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pacers can cover
Center Myles Turner is coming off a double-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the Game 1 loss. He finished the Eastern Conference Semifinals with back-to-back 17-point performances in Game 6 and Game 7 wins over the New York Knicks. He has scored in double digits in six consecutive games, including a 21-point and 10-rebound performance in a 111-106 Game 3 win over the Knicks. In 14 postseason games, he is averaging 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 blocks.
Andrew Nembhard, a 24-year-old former second-round draft pick, is coming off a 12-point, seven-assist and three-rebound effort in Game 1. In a 130-109 close-out win at New York on Sunday, he scored 20 points and added six assists and five rebounds in 34 minutes. In Game 6 of that series, Nembhard recorded 15 points and added five rebounds and five assists. In 14 playoff games, he is averaging 12.9 points, five assists and 3.1 rebounds. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pacers vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting 229 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pacers vs. Celtics, and which side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Pacers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
