Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 3/11/2018

Sunday, March 11, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Indiana Pacers travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Sunday, March 11, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 6 point favorites.

The Pacers head into this matchup with a mark of 38-28. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.6 as they are averaging 106.1 points per contest while giving up 104.5 per game. The Celtics have an overall record of 46-20. They currently are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.6 points per game and surrendering 100.2, good for a point differential of 4.4.

Valuable Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 37-29-0 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 25-38-3 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 40-24-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 34-30-2 against the over/under

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

10/17/17 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely
03/09/18 F Jaylen Brown Concussion left last game, is downgraded to doubtful Sunday vs Indiana

Player Spotlight

Victor Oladipo comes into this contest averaging 23.7 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Pacers. He pulls down 5.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 80%. Myles Turner averages 13.5 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.4 assists per contest and 6.9 rebounds per game for Indiana. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Al Horford averages 12.9 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per contest this year for the Celtics. He grabs 7.5 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage currently is at 75%. Kyrie Irving averages 24.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.8 rebounds per contest and 5.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana averages 106.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.61 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 42.4 rebounds per game and 22 assists per game, which ranks them 22nd and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 25th with 13.6 per game. The Pacers allow 104.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.7 rebounds a game which ranks 13th and they give up 22.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 19th in the league with 104.6 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 4.36. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.4 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Celtics are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Celtics surrender 100.2 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 20.7 assists allowed per contest and 21st with 43.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Pacers are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 109.7 is ranked 17th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 7th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 27th in the NBA. Indiana is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 13th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 20th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 30th in the league. The Celtics are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.2, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 15th. As a team they are 15th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Pacers/Celtics NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Indiana +6

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