by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Where to watch: BSIN, NBCSB
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Celtics -8.5; BOS -340, IND +280; O/U 233
FanDuel: Celtics -8.5; BOS -350, IND +280; O/U 234
BetMGM: Celtics -8.5; BOS -350, IND +260; O/U 234.5
Caesars: Celtics -8; BOS -345, IND +270; O/U 234.5
Season record
Celtics: 42-17
Pacers: 26-34
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
Celtics - Pacers preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Celtics: won 127-109 vs. Pistons
Pacers: won 117-113 vs. Bulls
The defending Eastern Conference champions are on a mission to have a big second half of the season, and will try to get off on the right foot when the Boston Celtics take on the Indiana Pacers at the building formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday with basketball resuming post-All-Star break.
It was an eventful weekend for the Celtics, particularly Jayson Tatum, who finished with an All-Star Game record of 55 points and walked away with All-Star MVP honors, with no hesitation. Jaylen Brown, who was opposite his teammate, had 35 points in the loss, but it was a party for everyone involved.
"It means the world," Tatum said. "You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game, and in all honesty, records are made to be broken. I'll hold it for as long as I can, but I'm certain someone will come along in a couple years and try to break it."
Before the break, though, Tatum kept things rolling with 38 points in the 18-point win over the Detroit Pistons at home. Tatum had nine rebounds and seven assists to go on his 15 of 24 shooting evening. But no one was stopping all the shots Tatum was hitting in that game.
“All things considered, everything that we've went through this season as a team with coaching changes and guys getting injured, missing games and being in and out of the lineup. ... Overall, it's been a hell of a start," Tatum said.
The Celtics are 42-17 and of course are the top team in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and three games clear of the Philadelphia 76ers. In case you haven't figured it out, this conference is stacked and it's absurd.
The Pacers, meanwhile, had a rough end before the break and that was primarily due to Tyrese Haliburton missing extended time due to injuries. Indiana rallied from down 24 to beat the Chicago Bulls in their final game before the break.
Buddy Hield had 27 points, and Aaron Nesmith had 21 points and seven rebounds to pace the Pacers to the comeback. Haliburton had 16 points but did have a team-high eight assists as the Pacers shot 47 percent from the floor.
“It's the new NBA. You shoot 3s and I shoot 3s at a high level,” said Hield, the NBA leader. “Passing a legend like Reggie in Indiana is a testament to hard work and my teammates finding me in the right spots."
The Pacers are just 2.5 games back of the play-in area, so there's plenty of time to get this in the right spot. Unfortunately, the teams in front of them are really good and more battle-tested. We'll see how this unfolds going forward.
Prediction
The Celtics are just 1-4 against the spread in the last five meetings, and the first game out of the break going on the road tends to impact things. But I can see Boston covering in this one. Celtics 118, Pacers 108
The defending Eastern Conference champions are on a mission to have a big second half of the season, and will try to get off on the right foot when the Boston Celtics take on the Indiana Pacers at the building formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday with basketball resuming post-All-Star break.
It was an eventful weekend for the Celtics, particularly Jayson Tatum, who finished with an All-Star Game record of 55 points and walked away with All-Star MVP honors, with no hesitation. Jaylen Brown, who was opposite his teammate, had 35 points in the loss, but it was a party for everyone involved.
"It means the world," Tatum said. "You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game, and in all honesty, records are made to be broken. I'll hold it for as long as I can, but I'm certain someone will come along in a couple years and try to break it."
Before the break, though, Tatum kept things rolling with 38 points in the 18-point win over the Detroit Pistons at home. Tatum had nine rebounds and seven assists to go on his 15 of 24 shooting evening. But no one was stopping all the shots Tatum was hitting in that game.
“All things considered, everything that we've went through this season as a team with coaching changes and guys getting injured, missing games and being in and out of the lineup. ... Overall, it's been a hell of a start," Tatum said.
The Celtics are 42-17 and of course are the top team in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and three games clear of the Philadelphia 76ers. In case you haven't figured it out, this conference is stacked and it's absurd.
The Pacers, meanwhile, had a rough end before the break and that was primarily due to Tyrese Haliburton missing extended time due to injuries. Indiana rallied from down 24 to beat the Chicago Bulls in their final game before the break.
Buddy Hield had 27 points, and Aaron Nesmith had 21 points and seven rebounds to pace the Pacers to the comeback. Haliburton had 16 points but did have a team-high eight assists as the Pacers shot 47 percent from the floor.
“It's the new NBA. You shoot 3s and I shoot 3s at a high level,” said Hield, the NBA leader. “Passing a legend like Reggie in Indiana is a testament to hard work and my teammates finding me in the right spots."
The Pacers are just 2.5 games back of the play-in area, so there's plenty of time to get this in the right spot. Unfortunately, the teams in front of them are really good and more battle-tested. We'll see how this unfolds going forward.
Prediction
The Celtics are just 1-4 against the spread in the last five meetings, and the first game out of the break going on the road tends to impact things. But I can see Boston covering in this one. Celtics 118, Pacers 108
Betting trends
Celtics are 63-54 ATS on the road the last 3 seasons.
Celtics are 14-4 ATS after winning four of five this season.
Celtics are 16-6 ATS off a home win this season.
Pacers are 19-12 ATS at home this season.
Pacers are 11-20 ATS in February the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Celtics:
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Robert Williams III
Pacers:
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Buddy Hield
PF: Aaron Nesmith
C: Myles Turner
Injury report
None
Statistical leaders
Celtics:
Points: Jayson Tatum -- 30.6
Rebounds: Jayson Tatum -- 8.6
Assists: Marcus Smart -- 7.1
Pacers:
Points: Tyrese Haliburton -- 19.9
Rebounds: Myles Turner -- 8.0
Assists: Tyrese Haliburton -- 10.1
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Boston Celtics - Indiana Pacers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
