The Indiana Pacers had their chance. A semblance of competence in the closing minutes of Game 1 on Tuesday would have gotten them a series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, the Boston Celtics pulled off a remarkable comeback to win.
Things could have been different for Indiana, but tonight's Pacers vs. Celtics predictions don't expect Tyrese Haliburton's shooting tendencies to be different in Game 2. Find out why I'm taking the young guard to eclipse his threes total in my NBA picks for this May 23 tilt.
Pacers vs Celtics prediction
My best bet
Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 threes (+105 at Pinnacle)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Everyone in the postseason is banged up by now. The physical play of the playoffs and the near constancy of games every other day wears out players, but the shot selection of Tyrese Haliburton speaks louder than any injury report silence may.
Of Haliburton’s 18 shots in Game 1, 14 of them came from deep. That was not entirely a result of the Boston Celtics' defense considering the rest of the Indiana Pacers took 21 threes on 81 shots (25.9%).
The Celtics haven't been demanding opponents take threes this postseason, at least not at an exorbitant rate. Before Game 1, 42.3% of opponents shots were from deep, only a slight uptick from the 40.1% Boston forced in the regular season. Frankly, that number has been somewhat middle-of-the-pack all along.
No, Haliburton chose to shoot from deep that much. He took 51% of his regular-season shots from beyond the arc, which has now risen to 64.9% in the playoffs.
Something is keeping Haliburton from getting into the lane like he did during the season, and it is more than just opposing defenses. Logic says his hamstring is more of an issue than publicly acknowledged.
Whatever the cause, Haliburton has now taken at least 10 three-point attempts in nine of his last 12 games and has made at least four threes in seven of his last 11. This is the offense he has chosen for the postseason, and this track record is now too long to ignore.
Pacers vs Celtics same-game parlay (SGP)
Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 threes
T.J. McConnell Under 4.5 assists
Pascal Siakam Over 20.5 points
During the regular season, 85.7% of the Pacers’ threes were assisted. But, aside from Haliburton, threes have not been an Indiana must in the postseason. Assists will thus dwindle.
Furthermore, T.J. McConnell may simply be overmatched by Boston’s defenders. As well as he played against the Knicks, the Celtics’ wings will limit McConnell’s overall effectiveness.
The one Pacer who should be up for this task is Pascal Siakam who remains underrated. He may not look like someone who creates his own shot, but he does it more than many realize, and that will be vital for Indiana to remain competitive in both this game and this series. His 24 points on 23 shots in Game 1 should be a baseline moving forward.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Pacers vs Celtics odds
Pacers vs Celtics live odds
Get the latest Pacers vs Celtics NBA playoff odds for Game 2.
Pacers vs Celtics opening odds
- Spread: Indiana +8.5 (-110) | Boston -8.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Indiana +292 | Boston -345
- Over/Under: Over 224.5 (-110) | Under 224.5 (-110)
Pacers vs Celtics spread and Over/Under analysis
- After Boston escaped with a Game 1 win, it opened as an 8.5-point favorite for tonight, a number that rose to -9 nearly immediately and remained there until some books slipped back to -8.5 on Thursday morning.
- The total opened at 224.5 and toggled between that number and 225 for two days before settling at 224.5.
- As of Thursday morning, only 42% of betting tickets at BetMGM backed the Celtics -8.5, but they carried 50% of the money bet, suggesting the bigger bettors are on Boston.
Pacers vs Celtics trend
Indiana has gone 3-0 against the spread in its last three games, while Boston has gone 0-3 ATS in its last three. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Celtics.
Pacers vs Celtics game info
| Location: | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Date: | Thursday, 5-23-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Pacers vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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