Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics Expert Game 1 Picks Against the Spread 4/14/2019

Sunday, April 14, 2019

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 in Game 1 of their 1st round series. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 6.5 point favorites.

The Pacers head into this matchup with a mark of 48-34. They are 2nd in the Central Division. They have a point differential of 3.3 as they average 108.0 points per contest while giving up 104.7 per game. The Celtics have an overall mark of 49-33. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 112.4 points per contest and give up 108.0, which is a point differential of 4.4.

Valuable Indiana Pacers Betting Trends

The Indiana Pacers are 40-41-1 against the spread

The Indiana Pacers are 34-47-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 38-42-2 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 46-34-0 against the over/under

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

01/24/19 G Victor Oladipo Knee is out for season

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

04/10/19 PG Marcus Smart Oblique is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Myles Turner comes into this contest averaging 13.3 points per game while playing 28.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 74%. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 18.0 points per game in 31.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.0 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving averages 23.8 points per game while playing 33.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.0 rebounds per game and has 6.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 87%. Jayson Tatum averages 15.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.0 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Indiana averages 108.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 5th in the league. They average 43.0 rebounds per game and 26.0 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 21st with 13.7 per game. The Pacers allow 104.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.7 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 24.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 14th in the league with 112.4 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.4. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 22nd in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game, and 5th in assists per contest with 26.3. The Celtics are 28th in turnovers per game with 12.8. The Celtics surrender 108.0 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 23.7 assists allowed per contest and 22nd with 45.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Pacers are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 106.5, and their offensive rating of 109.9 is ranked 3rd. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA. Indiana is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 26th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.2, and their defensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 7th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -6.5

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