The Indiana Pacers just snapped a six-game losing streak and head to the TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Oddsmakers don't expect them to build on that victory with NBA betting lines opening with the Pacers as 6.5-point road underdogs for the first game in this home-and-home set.
Here are our best free NBA betting picks and predictions for Pacers vs. Celtics on Monday, January 10, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Pacers vs Celtics odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
This line opened with the Celtics as 6.5-point favorites with the Over/Under at 215.5. Money has poured in on the Under, dropping the total to 212.5 by noon ET.
The last time these teams played against each other, the Celtics won 118-112 as 2.5-point home faves.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Pacers vs Celtics predictions
- Prediction: Celtics -6.5 (-110)
- Prediction: Under 212.5 (-110)
- Best bet: Smart Over 4.5 assists (-118)
Predictions made on 01/10/2022 at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Pacers vs Celtics game info
• Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Date: Monday, January 10, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCS Boston, Bally Sports Indiana
Pacers vs Celtics betting preview
Injuries
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon PG (Questionable), Torrey Craig SF (Questionable), Caris LeVert SG (Questionable), T.J. Warren F (Out), T.J. McConnell PG (Out).
Celtics: Payton Pritchard PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 12-3 in the Pacers' last 15 road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Celtics.
Pacers vs Celtics picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Pacers are coming off a 125-113 win against the Utah Jazz to break out of a six-game losing streak. They are 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-25 record and trail the 10th-place Celtics by four games.
Boston is fresh off a 99-75 win against the Knicks and has gone 3-2 straight up (2-3 against the spread) over its last five games.
The Pacers have a productive pair of big men in Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, but they're at a disadvantage on the wing and especially in the backcourt with their current injury situation. Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert are both listed as questionable while backup guard T.J. McConnell is out with a wrist injury. They've also missed T.J. Warren, who is still rehabbing from surgery last January.
The Celtics are healthy and look solid throughout their lineup, especially on the wing where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum continue to play at All-Star levels. This is the first time these Eastern Conference foes have faced off this season but the Celtics have gone 8-2 SU and 6-2-2 ATS in the previous 10 meetings.
Indiana has also really struggled on the road this season, winning just three of 18 games and failing to cover their spread in their last five contests away from home. Back the healthier and deeper Celtics squad at home.
Prediction: Celtics -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Pacers have been ice-cold from the floor in away contests, ranking among the Bottom-10 teams in the league in effective field goal percentage (50.6%) and averaging just 103.3 points per game.
Now they face a Boston team allowing just 104.4 ppg at home coming off its best defensive showing of the season after shutting the Knicks down on Saturday.
That said, the Celtics rank just 21st in the league in offensive rating and play at the eighth-slowest pace in the NBA — just one spot ahead of Indiana.
With the Under 5-2 in the last seven games at TD Garden and the Pacers going a commanding 12-3 to the Under in their last 15 games on the road, take the Under tonight.
Prediction: Under 212.5 (-110)
Best bet
Celtics guard Marcus Smart had only two assists in 25 minutes of playing time in Saturday's blowout win over the Knicks. However, that snapped a streak of three straight games with Smart picking up at least five assists.
The O/U on Smart's assists total today is set at 4.5, which is a bit puzzling when you consider he averages 5.4 assists and has racked up at least five assists in 26 of his 37 games (70.3 percent). He's also dropped at least five dimes in his last five games against the Pacers.
Pick: Smart Over 4.5 assists (-118)
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