Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 21/05/2024, 01:49  by Kennedy Kechula in NBA Predictions

The Boston Celtics will host the Indiana Pacers for game one of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Boston defeated the Cavaliers in the semi-finals while Indiana got the better of the Knicks. The Celtics have been dominant in every game one of these playoffs. They won by 18 points against the Heat in round one and then by 25 against the Cavaliers in the semi-finals. Joe Mazzulla’s men would go on to win each series in five games. They will hope for another similar outcome here to set up another dominant trajectory. The Celtics are in the conference finals for a third successive year. They progressed to the finals in 2022 for the first time since their title-winning triumph in 2008. Boston are averaging 108.1 points in the postseason and are shooting 48.0% from the field. During the regular season, they defeated the Pacers three times with two wins coming at home. Boston will be without Ktristaps Porzingis once again while Xavier Tillman is questionable. Porzingis missed the entire semi-final matchup with the Cavaliers and has been out for six games with a calf issue.

The Pacers haven’t won a game one in the postseason. But they have regrouped and come out on top as the series has progressed. They defeated the Bucks in six games after losing the series opener. Against the Knicks, they lost both games one and two on the road but would eventually win the series in seven. Rick Carlisle’s men were exceptional in game seven and won 130-109 to record their first road victory of these playoffs. It was their second-largest victory in the postseason and should build up their confidence levels. The Pacers have made an amazing return to the playoffs after three seasons in the cold. They have now advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2014. Indiana have recorded just one finals appearance in their history and this was 25 years ago. Bennedict Mathirin is still sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury in the regular season. He is the only player on the team’s injury report. The Pacers are averaging 114.2 points in the playoffs and are shooting 50.7% from the field.