The Boston Celtics are looking to reach their second NBA Finals in three seasons, but the Indiana Pacers stand in their way. Top-seeded Boston battles sixth-seeded Indiana in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday. The Pacers (47-35), who have beaten Boston in two of the last three postseason series in which they have played, are competing in the conference finals for the first time since 2013-14. The Celtics (64-18), who have won four of six previous playoff series against Indiana, lost in the East Finals last season to Miami. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains out for Boston.
The game from the TD Garden in Boston will tip off at 8 p.m. ET. The Celtics have allowed the second-fewest points per game this postseason at 96.7, while the Pacers are allowing 110.8, 13th-most. Boston is a 9.5-point favorite in the latest Pacers vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 221.5. Before making any Celtics vs. Pacers picks, be sure to check out what legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall, who was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter, vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 190-141 run that has returned more than $3,500 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has set his sights on Pacers vs. Celtics and just locked in his picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the NBA odds and betting lines for Pacers vs. Celtics:
- Pacers vs. Celtics spread: Boston -9.5
- Pacers vs. Celtics over/under: 221.5 points
- Pacers vs. Celtics money line: Indiana +345, Boston -467
- IND: The Pacers are 26-17-2 ATS as underdogs
- BOS: The Celtics are 26-21 ATS this season at home
- Pacers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Shooting guard Derrick White has been solid this postseason and is coming off an 18-point, six-assist and five-rebound performance in the Game 5 win over the Cavs. He has reached double-digit scoring in nine of 10 playoff games. He poured in 38 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 102-88 Game 4 first-round win at Miami. In 10 playoff games, he is averaging 18.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 33.6 minutes.
Point guard Jrue Holiday has played a key role in Boston's postseason success. In 10 games, all starts, he is averaging 10.4 points, five rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals. In Wednesday's closeout win over Cleveland, he scored 13 points and added four assists and three rebounds. In five regular-season games against the Pacers, he averaged 14 points, six rebounds, 4.4 assists and one block in 35.6 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pacers can cover
Center Myles Turner is coming off back-to-back 17-point performances in Game 6 and 7 wins over the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals. He has reached double-digit scoring in five consecutive games, including a 21-point and 10-rebound performance in a 111-106 Game 3 win over the Knicks. In 13 postseason games, he is averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 blocks in 32.4 minutes. He played well against Boston in five regular-season games, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Another offensive weapon for Indiana is point guard Andrew Nembhard. The 24-year-old scored 20 points and added six assists and five rebounds in a 130-109 win at New York on Sunday. He scored 15 points and added five rebounds and five assists in the Game 6 victory on Friday. In 13 playoff games, all starts, he is averaging 13 points, 4.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 31.9 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pacers vs. Celtics picks
Marshall is going Over on the point total. He's discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the point spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Celtics spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned more than $3,500 on his NBA picks, and find out.
