Jan 30, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket defended by Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
- Odds have opened for the 2024 Eastern Conference Final between #1 Boston Celtics vs #6 Indiana Pacers
- The Celtics went 3-2 against the Pacers in the regular season
- Below, see the opening Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics odds to win the Eastern Conference final
While Game 7 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks still has a few minutes to play, the Pacers hold an 18-point lead and oddsmakers have opened the series price for the 2024 Eastern Conference Final will between the #1 Boston Celtics (72-20, 48-40-4 ATS) and #6 Indiana Pacers (55-40, 51-42-2 ATS).
If the Pacers hang on, the East final will be a massive mismatch in terms of postseason experience. The Celtics are in the conference final for the third straight season and fourth time in five years. The Pacers, who advanced past the first round for the first time since 2014, will be making their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Final since 2013.
While Indiana’s performance at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon was massively impressive, oddsmakers list Indiana as a huge underdog in the Celtics vs Pacers series odds.
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Series Odds
| Team | Series Price | Game Spread | Total Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +600 | +1.5 (TBD) | O 5.5 (TBD) |
| Boston Celtics | -900 | -1.5 (TBD) | U 5.5 (TBD) |
Boston has opened as a -900 favorite to win the best-of-seven series with Indiana listed at +600 to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the year 2000.
Odds as of May 20 at DraftKings. Claim a DraftKings promo code to bet on the Pacers/Celtics series.
Boston has shortened to -145 in the updated NBA championship odds. The Celtics’ last title came in 2008.
On the opposite side of the NBA playoff bracket, the #4 Dallas Mavericks await the winner of the #2 Denver Nuggets and #3 Minnesota Timberwolves, who will decide their series in Game 7 tonight.
Pacers vs Celtics Recent Results
| Date | Location | Score/Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 30, 2024 | Boston | 129-124 Celtics |
| Jan 8, 2024 | Indiana | 133-131 Pacers |
| Jan 6, 2024 | Indiana | 118-101 Celtics |
| Dec 4, 2023 | Indiana | 122-112 Pacers |
| Nov 1, 2023 | Boston | 155-104 Celtics |
The Celtics got the better of the regular-season series with the Pacers, but Indiana held its own. Boston won three of five, including both home games and one contest in Indiana. Both of the Pacers’ wins came on their home court, where they are now 32-15 this year (playoffs and regular season combined). Indiana is a perfect 6-0 at home in the postseason.
The Celtics were an NBA-best 37-4 at home during the regular season. Unexpectedly, their only two losses in the postseason to date came at home, both in Game 2 to the Heat and Cavs.
While the Boston Celtics had an unproblematic run through the first two rounds – beating both #8 Miami and #4 Cleveland in five games apiece – the Pacers route to the East Finals was much more complicated. Indiana needed six games to beat a shorthanded Milwaukee team, missing Giannis Antetokounmpo for the entire series and Damian Lillard for multiple games, before a seven-game thriller with the Knicks in round two.
Indiana was a 2.5-point road underdog heading into Game 7 at MSG but took a 15-point lead into halftime thanks to a 70-point outburst in the first 24 minutes. Tyrese Haliburton looked to be at full speed despite ongoing issues with back spasms. Indiana’s All-Star point guard had a team-high 24 points, five assists, three rebounds, one block, and one steal in the first 40 minutes of Game 7.
Indiana vs Boston Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Home Team | Away Team | Start Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuesday, May 21 | Boston | Indiana | 8:10 pm |
| 2 | Thursday, May 23 | Boston | Indiana | 8:10 pm |
| 3 | Saturday, May 25 | Indiana | Boston | 8:40 pm |
| 4 | Monday, May 27 | Indiana | Boston | 8:10 pm |
| *5 | Wednesday, May 29 | Boston | Indiana | 8:10 pm |
| *6 | Friday, May 31 | Indiana | Boston | 8:10 pm |
| *7 | Sunday, June 2 | Boston | Indiana | 8:10 pm |
*If necessary.
Game 1 of the Celtics/Pacers series will take place at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday, May 21. The teams will play every two days from there on out, with Game 7 (if necessary) on Sunday, June 2. The table above shows the full schedule for the series.
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.