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USATSI

An Eastern Conference showdown has the Indiana Pacers (27-20) traveling to play the Boston Celtics (36-11) on Tuesday. This is the fifth and final regular season battle between these clubs. They've split the first four matches 2-2, and in the last meeting on Jan. 8, the Pacers outlasted the Celtics 133-131. The Pacers lead the NBA in scoring offense (124.8 points per game), while Boston ranks fourth in points allowed (110.7 ppg). Al Horford (neck) is out for Boston, with Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable. Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring), Myles Turner (back) and Bennedict Mathurin (toe) are all questionable for Indiana.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are 8-point favorites in the latest Pacers vs. Celtics odds, per SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 246. Before making any Celtics vs. Pacers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 15 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 48-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning over $1,700. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Boston vs. Indiana. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Celtics vs. Pacers:

  • Pacers vs. Celtics spread: Boston -8
  • Pacers vs. Celtics Over-Under: 246 points
  • Pacers vs. Celtics money line: Boston -321, Indiana +253
  • BOS: The Celtics have hit the money line in 21 of their last 23 home games
  • IND: The Pacers have hit the Team Total Over in 46 of their last 71 games
  • Pacers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Celtics can cover

Guard Jrue Holiday has been one of the best defenders in the NBA since entering the league. Holiday uses his outstanding instincts and awareness to make things difficult on ball handlers. The 33-year-old can also create his own shot from all three levels when needed. Holiday logs 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per contest. In the Jan. 25 win over the Heat, he tallied 17 points, five boards, and five assists.

Guard Derrick White is a fellow two-way contributor who can score, rebound, and pass well for Boston. Additionally, the Colorado product is making 39% of his 3-pointers on 6.6 attempts per game. In the Jan. 21 contest versus the Rockets, White totaled 21 points, 11 boards, and made three 3-pointers. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Pacers can cover

Forward Pascal Siakam recently joined the Pacers, and he is an impactful force with good agility for his size. The New Mexico State product averages 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and five assists per game. On Jan. 25 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Siakam dropped 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. This was another example of Siakam's ability to impact the game in many different ways.

Guard Mathurin (questionable) generates offense in a variety of ways. Mathurin is an aggressive slasher with a nice shooting touch as a shooter on the perimeter. The 2022 first-round pick puts up 14.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. In his last outing, Mathurin racked up 24 points and seven rebounds. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Celtics vs. Pacers picks

The model has simulated Pacers vs. Celtics 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, projecting 241 total points. It's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see who to pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Celtics vs. Pacers, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Celtics spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 48-30 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.