Celtics vs. Pacers Game 2 Betting Preview, Odds, How To Watch

Through the first two rounds, the Boston Celtics dominated their opponents in five-game series wins, but in each series, they had one game where they didn’t play up to their abilities, allowing the lesser team to steal one. They seemingly had that one bad game in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, but bone-headed mistakes late in the game by the young Pacers cost them the opportunity to steal home-court advantage. Can they play the Celtics as tough again in Game 2? We think so.

Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Eastern Conference Final Game 2 Betting Odds

All odds provided by Sports Interaction.

When to Watch and How to Watch Celtics vs. Pacers Game 2

The second game of this year’s Eastern Conference Final between the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics and No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers goes down on Thursday, May 23 at 7:00PM E.T. at Boston’s TD Garden. Canadians can follow the action on TSN1 and TSN4 or stream on the TSN App, while American viewers can watch the contest on ESPN.

Celtics vs. Pacers Point Spread Betting Preview

The Indiana Pacers had the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics right where they wanted them before an avalanche of unforced errors opened the door for Boston to send it to overtime, where more Pacers mistakes ultimately cost them the game.

This team may be young, but they’re not stupid, and they’ve got championship experience to draw from. Pascal Siakam won a title as arguably the second-best player for the Raptors in 2019, and head coach Rick Carlisle was at the helm of possibly the most impressive championship run of all-time with the Mavs in 2011.

This team knows how to respond to adversity too. When they went down 3-2 to the Knicks, they roared back to win the final two games of the series by double-digits. When they were wallopped by the Bucks B team in the first round, they came back and won the next game by 22.

Their fast-paced offense clearly made the Celtics uncomfortable, as the 128 points Boston gave up were the most they’ve allowed in a game since January 11 and the most they’ve given up at home all year.

The Pacers were able to stay with the Celtics and even lead for much of the game even though they allowed Boston to shoot 48 percent from the floor and win the fastbreak points battle. 

Their depth was huge as usual, with their bench putting in 28 points compared to Boston’s 13 off the bench. They also had all five starters in double figures, including three guys who got 20. Their ability to hit defenses in so many different ways—sharpshooters on the outside, Siakam and Turner in the paint, Siakam and McConnell in the mid-range, fast-break layups and alley-oops—that no team is going to stop them fully.

They just have to play smarter and limit their turnovers while locking in to get timely defensive stops. We’re not sure they’ll take this one outright, but after Game 1, the +8.5 point spread Ontario sportsbooks are giving the Pacers is downright disrespectful.

Here are a few NBA betting trends from this season to consider:

• Celtics have gone 2-4 ATS since start of Eastern Semis
• Pacers have gone 5-3 ATS since start of Eastern Semis
• Pacers are 4-2 ATS as underdogs in the playoffs
• Pacers are 26-13-2 ATS after a loss this year
• Indiana is 17-13-1 ATS as the road dog this year
• Celtics are 25-21-2 ATS as the home favorite this year
• Celtics are 14-17 ATS at home in the last 4 postseasons

Top Celtics vs. Pacers Player Points Props

With Boston’s top big man, Kristaps Porzingis, out for at least one more game, the Pacers need to continue to lean on their own seven-footer, Mr. Myles Turner. Indiana’s resident big man has been impressive in these playoffs, regularly taking advantage of plus matchups against teams who didn’t bother to invest in a quality defender in the paint.

Turner got whatever he wanted on the inside against 38-year-old Al Horford, going 5-for-5 in the paint en route to 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting. Horford isn’t mobile enough to keep up with Turner on the outside, and he’s no longer strong enough to keep Turner from getting what he wants down low.

Turner has hit 17+ in nine of 14 playoff games, including the last three straight, so take the over on his 16.5 points prop at solid -110 odds.