There are seven games of NBA action tipping off across today’s NBA slate. Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Indiana Pacers will take on the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference battle.
Both of these teams continue to await the return of their star player, who sustained an Achilles tear in last year’s postseason. However, they have had varying levels of success in producing results without them this season. Tonight will mark the fourth and final matchup of the season between these two teams. The Celtics picked up a pair of victories over the Pacers in December, but Indiana did edge them out for a 98-96 win in their most recent meeting on January 12th.
Looking at the odds for tonight’s game, the Celtics are 10.5-point favorites and hold -470 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Pacers are +360 underdogs with the game total set at 225.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Wednesday night matchup.
Pacers at Celtics Preview
It has been a steep fall from success for the Pacers after coming just one win shy of being crowned NBA Champions last year. They now hold the second-worst record in the NBA and sit in 15th place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-34 record. Indiana has, however, shown some signs of life of late, winning four of their last seven. On the season, the Pacers are 22-22 against the spread, and the game total has gone under in 28 of their 44 games.
There have been issues on both sides of the ball for Rick Carlisle’s squad this year. The Pacers are averaging the second-fewest points per game, at 110.1 per contest. They also rank last in offensive rating, last in team field-goal percentage, and 28th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 118.3 points per game against the Pacers, which ranks 24th. Indiana also ranks 20th in defensive rating, 25th in opponents’ field goal percentage, second in opponents’ three-point percentage, and 10th in pace.
In addition to Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin will also remain sidelined tonight. Pascal Siakam headlines the team’s production with 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Andrew Nembhard adds 17.6 points and a team-high 7.1 assists per game, while Aaron Nesmith adds 13.4 points of his own. Jay Huff has had some encouraging flashes of late, while T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker, and Ben Sheppard have had some nice moments as well.
Despite Jayson Tatum remaining sidelined, the Boston Celtics have continued to look the part of an Eastern Conference threat. Tatum has also returned to on-court workouts, and the likelihood of him returning to make an impact this season seems to be increasing. Without him, Boston holds a 26-16 record on the year and sits in second place in the Eastern Conference. They are looking to bounce back from a narrow 104-103 loss to the conference-leading Pistons in the previous game, but have won eight of their last 12.
The Celtics rank 14th in the league in scoring, averaging 116.7 points per game. They are very dependent on their three-point production, ranking second in three-point attempts per game and eighth in three-point percentage. Boston is producing the second-best offensive rating, ranks 14th in field goal percentage, and is last in the league in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring the second-fewest points per game at 110.0 per contest. The Celtics rank 14th in defensive rating, third in opponents’ field goal percentage, and 25th in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed.
Without Tatum on the floor, Jaylen Brown has ascended to a true MVP candidate, posting averages of 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. He is listed as probable for tonight with an illness. Derrick White adds 17.7 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons are each microwave scorers that average in double figures. Neemias Queta has impressed as the primary big man option, while Luka Garza has given them some good minutes of late. Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh have also made a positive impact throughout the year.
Pacers at Celtics Prediction, Best Bet
The Celtics picked up outright victories in the first two matchups between these two teams, although Indiana was able to cover the 10.5-point spread in the first game. Then, Indiana tallied the outright upset as 5.5-point underdogs in the most recent matchup by recording a 98-96 win. It is worth noting that Jaylen Brown missed this game due to back spasms.
Both these teams last played on Monday, so there is no rest advantage in either direction. Both sides are also looking to bounce back from a loss in the previous matchup and fell short to the Detroit Pistons in the last week. With this matchup back in Boston and Jaylen Brown expected to be available, I like the Celtics to get back on track to win and cover.
The biggest vulnerability in Boston’s defense is their struggles to defend the three-point line. But Indiana ranks 28th in team three-point percentage and does not possess the personnel to capitalize on this. It is their overall lack of offensive production that will plague them in this game. Indiana was held to a season-low 78 points against the Pistons on Saturday and 104 against the 76ers in the previous game.
Boston does not play at a high pace, but has found an identity allowing Brown to attack the rim and for surrounding shooters ready to fire long-range attempts off the catch. Pascal Siakam will likely get the primary assignment, but there is not a great matchup on this Pacers team for Brown’s combination of size and physicality. He tallied 30 and 31 points against the Pacers in the opening two matchups.
As the season has progressed, the Celtics have rounded into a tough team to play on an every-night basis, while it has become increasingly clear that the Pacers are amid a gap year. Expect both these themes to remain evident tonight. Boston will be hungry for a bit of revenge after falling short against this Pacers team just over a week ago and suffering a tough loss against Detroit in the previous game. Look for the Celtics to have a focused effort and to push the scoring to a level the Pacers cannot match to cover the 10.5-point number tonight.
