NBA 2019 Preview, Odds, And Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers

KEY POINTS

Pacers are slight favorites against Celtics based on odds
Celtics will go for a fifth straight win
Pacers will look to bounce back from their loss to the Clippers

The Boston Celtics are back in full force as they visit the Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday for a high-grade Eastern Conference showdown. The Celtics are sitting on a four-game winning run and second in the East below the Milwaukee Bucks with a 17-5 record. The Pacers, on the other hand, are likewise holding a winning record of 15-9 which is good for the sixth spot at the conference.

Gordon Hayward is back in action for Brad Stevens. The former ninth overall NBA draft pick will try to carry over his decent showing from his comeback game last Monday against the Cavs where he notched 14 points, five boards, and four assists in 26 minutes of play. He hit the injury layoff for about a month after hurting his hand. The former Butler University star provided a significant lift in his return as the C’s scored their 10^th straight victory at home.

Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis will be expected to perform a notch higher as the Pacers gun to bounce back from Monday’s loss to the Clippers. Brogdon played 30 minutes and scored a team-high 20 points. Sabonis, meanwhile, continues to be an automatic double-double machine as he poured in 18 points on top of 22 boards in 36 minutes.

Odds:

The spread line is pegged at -1.5 for the hosting Pacers. The total line is projected at O/U 209.5 points.

The Celtics have lost all their five games on the road, but it does not mean that they are horrible as visitors. Even in games away from Massachusetts, the Celtics still accounted for a winning 7-5 record straight up. It also reflected to their trend against the spread where they covered the handicap in the last five games they are tagged as underdogs, not to mention that they are 4-0 ATS overall in their last four assignments.

In the last seven times the teams faced in Indiana, the total points went OVER the market line five times. However, the total points have gone UNDER five times in the Celtics last seven road games; the Pacers’ trend has been going UNDER too as the selection swept their last four games.

Prediction:

The Celtics will trip the home team so back them up both straight up and ATS. The Celtics core is fully geared and healthy so expect lots of buckets in this game. Go OVER the market line.