Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Prediction, 5/23/2024 Preview and Pick

Game: Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Indiana (+10)

TD Garden is the location where the Boston Celtics will try to defeat the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The C's lead the series 1-0. Boston opens this contest as 10-point favorites from oddsmakers. The over/under comes in at 226.5.

The Pacers took an overtime loss by a score of 133-128 in Game 1. Indiana finished the game with a 53.5% FG percentage (53 of 99) and buried 13 out of their 35 shots from downtown. When they shot from the free throw line, the Pacers made 9 of their 10 attempts for a percentage of 90.0%. In the matter of hauling in rebounds, they earned a total of 44 with 10 of them being offensive. They also dished out 38 dimes in this game in addition to forcing the opposition into 14 turnovers and earning 8 steals. Regarding defense, Indiana allowed the other team to shoot 47.5% from the floor on 47 out of 99 shooting. Boston recorded 30 dimes and had 11 steals for this contest. Moreover, Boston grabbed 43 boards (13 offensive, 30 defensive) and had 4 blocked shots. Boston finished 80.0% when shooting free throws by burying 24 of their 30 tries. They converted 15 of 45 tries from beyond the arc. With respect to personal fouls, the Pacers ended up walking away with 23 and the Celtics had 15 personal fouls.

Tyrese Haliburton is a player who came through for the matchup. Haliburton finished the game shooting 44.4% from the field and also dished out 10 dimes. He played for 40 minutes played and also pulled down 3 boards. He ended up with 25 points on 8 out of 18 shooting.

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Indiana heads into this matchup with a mark of 47-35 on the year. They have an average of 123.3 points per contest (1st in basketball) while hitting 50.7% from the floor. The Pacers are connecting on 37.4% on shots from distance (1,082 of 2,891) and 78.2% from the free throw line. As a unit, Indiana is pulling in 41.5 boards per game and has totaled 2,522 assists for the year, which ranks 1st in the NBA in terms of passing the rock. They are losing possession via turnover 12.9 times per contest and as a squad they commit 21.4 personal fouls on a nightly basis.

On the defensive end, the Pacers are forcing their opponents into 13.9 turnovers per game while drawing 18.3 personal fouls. They give up 36.5% on 3-point attempts and they are 27th in the NBA in opponents PPG (120.2). The Pacers are allowing a shooting percentage of 49.6% (3,653 of 7,361) and they relinquish 43.4 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They are currently ranked 4th in basketball in allowing assists with 2,020 surrendered for the season.

In Game 1, the Celtics were able to collect 30 defensive boards and 13 offensive boards totaling 43 for the matchup. They also turned it over 14 times, while getting 11 steals for this contest. The Pacers had 23 personal fouls in this matchup which got the Celtics to the free throw line for 30 shots. They were able to make 24 of them for a rate of 80.0%. In regard to shooting from beyond the arc, Boston buried 15 of their 45 attempts (33.3%). When the final whistle blew, the Celtics shot 47 out of 99 from the floor which gave them a rate of 47.5%. The Celtics allowed the Pacers to convert 53 out of 99 tries from the floor which left them shooting 53.5% in this game. They shot 37.1% from beyond the perimeter by hitting 13 out of 35 and ended up shooting 9 of 10 from the free throw line (90.0%). In relation to rebounding, Boston allowed Indiana to grab 44 in total (10 on the offensive glass).

Jayson Tatum was important for the Celtics for the contest. He buried 12 of 26 in the game for a rate of 46.2%, and had 12 rebounds. Tatum tallied 36 points in his 46 mins of playing time and accounted for 4 assists in this matchup.

Boston has a win-loss mark of 64-18 on the year. As an offensive team, the Celtics are hitting on 48.7% from the field, which ranks them 8th in basketball. Boston has scored 9,887 points so far this year (120.6 per game) and they grab 46.3 boards per game. They are dishing out assists 26.9 times per contest (14th in the league) and they turn it over 11.9 times per game. The Celtics have committed 16.2 fouls per contest and they shoot 80.7% from the free throw line.

The Boston defense surrenders 35.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter (1,059 of 3,008) and their opposition makes 76.8% of their shots from the free throw line. They have conceded 24.9 assists and 43.3 boards on a nightly basis, which is ranked 5th and 14th in basketball. The Celtics on defense are ranked 5th in the NBA in points allowed per contest with 109.2. They have forced 12.0 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 45.3% from the field (2nd in the league).

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Indiana (+10)

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