The Indiana Pacers head to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday night at 7:30 PM ET on NBA TV. Can the Celtics cover the 11-point spread as home favorites? Keep reading for our Pacers vs. Celtics betting prediction.
The Indiana Pacers are 15-16 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 13-17-1 ATS this season.
The Boston Celtics are 22-8 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 11-19 ATS this season.
Pacers vs. Celtics Matchup & Betting Odds
523 Indiana Pacers (+11) at 524 Boston Celtics (-11); o/u 233.5
7:30 p.m. ET, Friday, December 27, 2024
TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: NBA TV
Pacers vs. Celtics Public Betting Information
Our NBA Public Betting Information page indicates that 58% of public bettors are currently backing the Pacers when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Indiana Pacers Daily Fantasy Spin
Pacers power forward Obi Toppin is unlikely to play on Friday due to an ankle injury. Toppin is averaging 10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 20.4 minutes per game off the bench this year.
Indiana small forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle), small forward Isaiah Jackson (Achilles), and center James Wiseman (Achilles) will all miss Friday’s road date with Boston.
Nesmith is the best player out of that trio and is also the closest to returning among the players listed. The former Celtic is averaging 9.2 points per game in 6 starts this season.
Boston Celtics Daily Fantasy Spin
Celtics point guard Jrue Holiday (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable to play against the Pacers on Friday. The former Milwaukee Buck is averaging 12.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 26 starts for Boston this season.
Boston center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is also officially listed as questionable for Friday’s game. The Latvian 7-footer is putting up 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest in 11 starts in 2024.
If Holiday can’t play, Boston will likely elevate Payton Pritchard to the starting lineup. If Porzingis sits out, the Celtics will likely use a combination of Al Horford and Luke Kornet to man the pivot against the Pacers.
Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Betting Trends
Indiana is 35-21-3 ATS after a loss since the start of last season.
Indiana is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games against Boston.
Boston is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Boston is 5-11 ATS as a home favorite this season.
Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Prediction:
Boston has the third-best straight-up record in the NBA this season at 22-8. They have the fourth-worst against-the-spread record in the league this season at 11-19. The Celtics are winning games, but they aren’t winning by enough to cover the spread. To wit, Boston is 11-18 ATS as a favorite this season. What’s more, the Celtics are 10-16 ATS in conference games and 5-11 ATS in home games this season. It’s hard to trust a Boston team that lost outright as favorites of 9.5 points or more in 3 of their last 4 contests.
The Celtics were favored by 9.5 points against the Sixers on Christmas Day and lost outright 118-114. Boston was favored by 9.5 points against a shorthanded Magic team and lost outright 108-104 on December 23rd. On December 19th, Boston was favored by 14.5 points over Chicago and lost at home 117-108.
The oddsmakers have pumped up the Celtics’ spreads after they won the championship last season. Until the numbers adjust, I’m inclined to take the underdog in most Boston matchups. The Pacers and the points are the pick on the road in Beantown on Friday night.