The Indiana Pacersand Boston Celtics meet in Game 2 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Finals Thursday. The Celtics lead the series 1-0. Tip-off from TD Garden is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Pacers vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Pacers snapped a 2-game winning streak with a 133-128 overtime loss against the Celtics Tuesday while covering as 9.5-point road underdogs.
G Tyrese Haliburton scored a team high 25 points and added 10 assists for a double-double. F Pascal Siakam(24 points and 12 rebounds) and C Myles Turner(23 and 10) also had double-doubles while Indiana shot 53.5% from the field in the loss.
F Jayson Tatumhad a game-high 36 points with 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won 4 in a row. Three Boston players finished with 26 or more points, and each Celtics starter scored in double digits. Boston shot 47.5% from the field in the win.
There is no value on the Celtics (-375), who have won 8 of their last 10 games overall and 3 of their last 4 at home, to beat the Pacers, who have lost 5 of their last 6 on the road.
While Indiana kept it close in Game 1, and almost came out with a victory, it took a team effort and 3 players to score 23 or more points.
The Celtics have covered the spread in 5 of their last 9 games, including 2 of their last 3 as favorites of 9.5 points or fewer. They have limited opponents to 102 or fewer points in 3 of their last 4 games and 7 of their last 9.
