Celtics vs Pacers Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: White Picks Up Slack for Tatum-less Celts

The Boston Celtics will try to defeat the Indiana Pacers for the second time in as many games at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But if the Celtics want to pull off that feat, they’ll have to do it without their best player.

Jayson Tatum will sit out to nurse an ankle injury ahead of a big back-to-back later in the week. But even without their star player, the NBA odds have the Celtics as road favorites against Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.

Can Boston contain Haliburton and the high-octane Pacers without Tatum? I break down this Eastern Conference clash and bring you the best bet in my NBA picks and predictions for Pacers vs. Celtics on Monday, January 8.

Celtics vs Pacers odds

Celtics vs Pacers predictions

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers' high-flying offense has been one of the more fun stories at this point of the NBA season.

But that offense hit a wall in the form of the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Boston’s backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White harassed Haliburton all night, limiting him to 17 points on 5-for-17 shooting and just seven assists in what turned out to be a 118-101 Celtics victory.

The Celtics were 7-point favorites in that game. However, this time around, they will be without star forward Jayson Tatum, who is managing an ankle injury. As a result, Boston has been adjusted to a 3-point favorite for Monday night’s matchup.

But don’t be surprised that the Celtics are still favorites here without Tatum. This Boston team has depth and plays defense, while the Pacers still think defense is optional.

That depth means several guys could step up in Tatum’s absence, and I’m looking no further than White.

The Celtics guard is a capable scorer, shooting 49% from the field and 41.8% from 3-point range. They just haven’t needed him to do too much considering they have Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Holiday.

White is averaging 16.3 points per game this season, but he has been quick to shoulder more of a scoring load when Tatum has been out. Tatum has only missed two other games this season. White has gone for 21, and 28 points in those games. 

Helping White’s cause tonight is the fact that Indiana thinks defense is more of an abstract thought than a way to play basketball. The Pacers rank 26th in defensive rating, 25th in effective field goal percentage against, and 29th in scoring defense, surrendering 124.1 points per game.

I’m backing White to pick up some of the scoring slack from Tatum and taking the Over on his point total in what should be another high-scoring Pacers game.

My best bet: Derrick White Over 19.5 points (-110 at FanDuel)

Celtics vs Pacers same-game parlay

Derrick White Over 19.5 points

Kristaps Porzingis Over 8.5 rebounds

2nd quarter total Over 60.5

+454 at FanDuel

Tatum also averages 8.7 rebounds per game, which means Porzingis will have to put in some more work on the boards. Porzingis, who has been a great fit with the Celtics, is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game this season but I like him to go Over his number of 8.5 rebounds tonight.

Porzingis had three rebounds in just six minutes of play on Saturday before having to leave the game with an eye injury .It sounds like he’s good to go tonight and gets to face a Pacers team that ranks 25th in rebounding rate.

And let’s close this SGP with the second quarter to go Over its total. Yes, Tatum is out but it doesn’t mean the Celtics now lack firepower. The Celtics also lead the NBA in second-quarter scoring at 31.6 points. While the Pacers rank dead last in second-quarter scoring defense. And Tatum's absence should help the Pacers — the NBA's second-highest-scoring team in the second — score.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Celtics vs Pacers spread and Over/Under analysis

With rumors that Tatum would sit, sportsbooks opened the Celtics as 4-point road favorites after they closed at -7 for Saturday night’s matchup. Once Tatum was confirmed out on Monday afternoon, the line moved to Boston -3.

This is just the third game all season the Celtics have played without Tatum. They won both and went 1-1 against the spread. 

The Celtics are still favored on the road because they are the most complete team in the NBA and if there is a group that can handle the absence of a superstar, it’s them.

The Pacers are known for their offense and rank first in the league in offensive rating, but the Celtics are just behind them, ranking second. And while Indiana treats defense as an afterthought, Boston ranks second in defensive rating as well. I would still lean toward laying the points with the Celtics even without Tatum.

When it comes to the total, that hit the board at 243.5 after closing at 250.5 in that last meeting, but the Pacers’ style means Over bettors haven’t been scared off due to Tatum being out, and the number has jumped to 245.5.

Not surprisingly, the Pacers are one of the best Over teams in the NBA at 23-12 O/U. 

Celtics vs Pacers betting trend to know

The Celtics went Over the total in their only two other games without Jayson Tatum this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Pacers.

Celtics vs Pacers game info

Celtics vs Pacers latest injuries

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