May 21, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) in overtime for game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
- Coming off a thrilling 133-128 OT victory the first game of the series, the Boston Celtics are big favorites over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final
- The Pacers easily covered as double-digit underdogs in the series opener
- Below, see the Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics odds, player props, predictions, and injury reports for Game 2 on May 23
Following on the heels of a thrilling 133-128 OT victory in the first game of the series, the Boston Celtics (73-20, 42-6 home, 48-41-4 ATS) will try to take a commanding 2-0 lead on the Indiana Pacers (55-41, 23-26 away, 52-41-3 ATS) in Game 2 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Final on Thursday night at TD Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:10 pm ET.
Indiana easily covered as ten-point underdogs in the opener and the spread for Game 2 has moved a point in its direction.
Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Game 2 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +9 (-110) | +310 | O 224.5 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -9 (-110) | -395 | U 224.5 (-110) |
The Pacers vs Celtics Game 2 odds list Boston as a nine-point favorite and -395 on the moneyline. The Pacers come back as +310 underdogs to even the series at two games apiece. The game total is sitting at 224.5, which is three points higher than Game 1’s total of 221.5. The teams combined for 134 points in four quarters on Tuesday before adding another 27 in OT.
Odds as of May 23. Claim the best sportsbook promo codes to bet on the NBA playoffs today.
The Celtics’ odds to win the series improved from -900 to -1200 after their Game 1 victory. On the other side of the NBA playoff bracket, the Dallas Mavericks upset the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, improving to -165 to reach the 2024 NBA Finals.
Pacers Fall Just Short in Game 1
Indiana was poised to take a 1-0 lead on Tuesday night. After a back-and-forth battle all game, the Pacers held a 117-114 lead with under 10 seconds to play. But a Jaylen Brown prayer from the corner sent the game to overtime.
Tyrese Haliburton had a team-high 25 points and 10 assists, while Pascal Siakam (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Myles Turner (23 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles.
On the Boston side, Jayson Tatum had a game-high 36 points including nine massive points in the OT period. All five Celtics starters scored at least 15 points.
Indiana can blame turnovers for the loss. The Pacers shot better from the field (53.5% to 47.5%), shot better from three (37.5% vs 33.3%), and collected one more rebound (44 to 43). But they were -7 in turnovers (21 to 14) with their starting front court accounting for 11 of those.
IND vs BOS Game 2 Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Nesmith (IND) | 11.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 4.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) |
| Al Horford (BOS) | 11.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 7.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 2.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov +140 | Un +166) |
| Andrew Nembhard (IND) | 10.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 2.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) | 4.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 1.5 (Ov +150 | Un -180) |
| Derrick White (BOS) | 15.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 4.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) | 2.5 (Ov -162 | Un +136) |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 25.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 6.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) | 3.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 1.5 (Ov -155 | Un +130) |
| Jayson Tatum (BOS) | 30.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 10.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 5.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 2.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) |
| Jrue Holiday (BOS) | 13.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) | 5.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 4.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | 1.5 (Ov -192 | Un +160) |
| Myles Turner (IND) | 16.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 7.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) |
| Obi Toppin (IND) | 8.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 3.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -205 | Un +170) |
| Pascal Siakam (IND) | 20.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 7.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 3.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 0.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) |
| Payton Pritchard (BOS) | 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un-135) | 2.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 2.5 (Ov +114| Un -135) | 1.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) |
| TJ McConnell (IND) | 9.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 0.5 (Ov +250 | Un -310) |
| Tyrese Haliburton (IND) | 19.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) | 4.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) | 8.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 3.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) |
NBA player props from DraftKings on May 23.
Tatum’s point total has gone up a point for Game 2, from 29.5 to 30.5, even though he only scored 27 points during regulation time in the series opener (plus another nine in OT).
Siakam once again leads the Pacers at just 20.5 with Haliburton just behind at 19.5. Haliburton’s assist total is once again 8.5. He collected 10 in Game 1 and led the NBA at 10.9 APG during the regular season.
There are no new injuries to report for Game 2. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains the biggest absence.
Pacers vs Celtics Game 2 Predictions
The Celtics have looked far more vulnerable at home during the playoffs than they did during the regular season. Boston lost Game 2 at home to both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, both as double-digit favorites. Without Kristaps Porzingis, they don’t have the size advantage down low over Indiana that they usually would, and that showed on the boards in Game 1.
If Indiana’s frontcourt can take better care of the ball, Indiana has a great chance to even this series tonight, and at +310, I love the value on the Pacers to pull off the straight-up upset.
I’m also going to fade Tatum’s point total again, even though I was burned by OT last time. The Celtics’ offense has taken a much more balanced approach in the postseason with Derrick White, in particular, emerging as a huge scoring threat. Tatum has been happy to play a bigger facilitator role, piling up the assists as his teammates take on bigger scoring roles.
IND vs BOS Game 2 picks:
- Pacers moneyline (+310)
- Tatum under 30.5 (-118)
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.