Jan 6, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
- The Indiana Pacers are big road underdogs against the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final
- Boston hasn’t played since last Wednesday, May 15, while Indiana is fresh off a dominant Game 7 win over the Knicks on Sunday
- See the Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Game 1 odds, predictions, player props, and injury reports
Back in a familiar position, the Boston Celtics (72-20, 41-6 home, 48-40-4 ATS) will open the 2024 Eastern Conference Final as heavy favorites over the Indiana Pacers (55-40, 23-25 away, 51-41-3 ATS) in Game 1 at TD Garden on Tuesday night (8:10 pm ET).
Off for nearly a week after ousting the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, the Celtics head into Game 1 as double-digit favorites against the spread.
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Game 1 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +10 (-110) | +330 | O 221.5 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -10 (-110) | -425 | U 221.5 (-110) |
Boston is currently laying ten points in Tuesday’s NBA odds and sits at -425 on the moneyline, an 80.95% implied win probability. The Pacers are +330 road underdogs (23.26%) while the game total is sitting at 221.5.
Odds as of May 21. Find the best NBA betting site for your sports-betting style.
The Celtics opened as -900 favorites to win the best-of-seven series over the Pacers and advance to the NBA Finals in the 2024 NBA playoff bracket.
Pacers Lead Playoffs in Offensive Rating
The game total of 221.5 is one of the highest we’ve seen in the 2024 NBA playoffs, but the big number is warranted. This series will feature the #1 and #2 offenses in terms of O-Rating from both the regular season and the playoffs. The Celtics finished first in Offensive Rating at 122.2 during the regular season (with the Pacers second at 120.5) while Indiana leads the postseason in O-Rating at 121.7 (with Boston second at 118.9).
The Celtics, of course, have a considerably better defense, which resulted in an NBA-best +11.7 Net Rating in the regular season and a league-leading +12.8 Net Rating in the playoffs so far. Indiana was +2.9 in the regular season (seventh) and has a +3.6 Net Rating the postseason (fifth).
The Pacers should enter Game 1 with plenty of confidence, though. They played their best game of the playoffs in Game 7 against the Knicks on Sunday, routing New York 130-109 thanks in large part to a 70-point first half against one of the league’s best defenses. Indiana’s depth was on full display with all five starters scoring at least 17 points, led by 26 from All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The Celtics have been getting personal-best performances from both Jaylen Brown (23.1 PPG, 20.0 PER in the playoffs) and Derrick White (18.2 PPG, 20.0 PER in the playoffs). Jayson Tatum’s scoring is down compared to the regular season (from 26.9 to 24.3 PPG) but his assists are way up (5.8 vs 4.9 APG) and his Player Efficiency Rating is almost identical (22.3 vs 22.2) as he takes on more of a facilitator role
Indiana vs Boston Game 1 Injury Reports
Boston’s lineup will look basically identical to all five games against the Cavs in the second round. Center Kristaps Porzingis (20.1PPG, 7.2 RPG) remains out with a calf injury. Porzingis hasn’t played since Game 4 of Boston’s first-round series with Miami. The only other name on Boston’s injury report is forward Xavier Tillman (1.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG) who is questionable with due to personal reasons.
Indiana’s Game 1 injury report includes just one name: Bennedict Mathurin 14.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG), who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in early March. Haliburton had been on the injury report for much of the second round due to back spasms, but certainly appeared to be at full strength during his electric Game 7 performance against the Knicks.
IND vs BOS Player Props for Game 1
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Nesmith (IND) | 9.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) |
| Al Horford (BOS) | 9.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 7.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 2.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | 1.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) |
| Andrew Nembhard (IND) | 10.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) | 2.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 4.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 1.5 (Ov +185| Un -225) |
| Derrick White (BOS) | 16.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 3.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) | 4.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov +130 | Un -155) |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 25.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 6.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 2.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 1.5 (Ov -175 | Un +145) |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 29.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 10.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) | 5.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 2.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) |
| Jrue Holiday (BOS) | 12.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 5.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 4.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 1.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) |
| Myles Turner (IND) | 15.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | 6.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) |
| Obi Toppin (IND) | 8.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +185 | Un -225) |
| Pascal Siakam (IND) | 20.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 7.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 0.5 (Ov -170 | Un +142) |
| Payton Pritchard (BOS) | 9.5 (Ov -115 | Un-105) | 2.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 2.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) | 1.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) |
| TJ McConnell (IND) | 9.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) | 2.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 4.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 0.5 (Ov +215 | Un -265) |
| Tyrese Haliburton (IND) | 19.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 4.5 (Ov +100 | Un -120) | 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 3.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) |
NBA player props from DraftKings on May 21.
Despite a quiet playoffs so far, from a scoring perspective, Tatum has the highest point total on the board at 29.5. Pascal Siakam leads the Pacers players at 20.5 with Haliburton just behind him at 19.5.
Tatum is also the only player with a double-digit rebound total (10.5).
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Game 1 Predictions
Indiana went 2-3 against Boston in the regular season, losing both games at TD Garden. But the most-recent meeting (Jan. 30) was a close and thrilling affair which saw Indiana climb all the way back from 15 down at halftime to take a 94-93 late in the third quarter before the Celtics ultimately emerged with a hard-fought 129-124 win.
The young Pacers know they have the talent to hang with Boston, and with the Celtics potentially a bit out of rhythm after a six-day hiatus, I expect Game 1 to be a competitive affair that’s not decided until late.
IND vs BOS Game 1 picks:
- Pacers +10 (-110)
- Tatum under 29.5 (-110)
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.