Pacers vs. Celtics Prediction
After letting the Cavs get a backdoor cover last night, will the Indiana Pacers manage to cover on the road when they face the Boston Celtics tonight at 7PM ET?
519 Indiana Pacers vs. 520 Boston Celtics
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
7PM ET – TD Garden
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Celtics are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -6.5 points against the Pacers. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 213 points. The public betting for this game currently has 71 percent going on the Celtics as the home favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Pacers struggling to cover
The Indiana Pacers are coming off a 123-115 win at Cleveland on Tuesday night. They have won seven of their last eight, but have failed to cover the spread in four straight games. Indiana is 27-13 overall this season with a 13-8 record on the road, a 21-19 record against the spread and a 22-18 record with the under.
Indiana has the league’s best defense, as the Pacers are giving up just 102.3 points per game while holding opponents to 44.2 percent shooting. Offensively, Indiana is putting up 108.1 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from the arc. The team has Myles Turner listed as doubtful to play in tonight’s game due to a shoulder injury. Victor Oladipo is leading the team with 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while Bojan Bogdanovic is adding 16.5 points per game.
Celtics heating up
Boston has won three straight games coming into tonight, including a 116-95 win over Brooklyn on Sunday. The Celtics have covered the spread in each of the three wins. Boston is 24-15 on the season, 14-5 at home, 21-18 against the spread and 24-15 with the over.
The Celtics have one of the best defenses in the NBA, allowing just 105.3 points per game while limiting opponents to 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent from the arc. Offensively, Boston is scoring 111.9 points per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the arc. Kyrie Irving is leading the team with 22.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per contest while Jayson Tatum is adding 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
NBA Betting Trends
Indiana
The Pacers have covered the spread in five of their last six on no rest and have covered in eight of their last 10 Wednesday games.
Boston
The Celtics have covered the spread in nine of their last 11 conference games and in 11 of their last 14 on 1 day of rest.
Prediction:
Indiana edged Boston in the lone meeting this season, 102-101 at home. However, the Pacers are coming off a game in Cleveland last night and have a quick turnaround against a Boston team that is playing well right now, especially at home. The Celtics give up just 102.7 per game at home. Boston has a defense that can compete right with Indiana and the Celtics have the better offensive weapons and better depth. I like the Celtics to cover at home tonight.
NBA Prediction: Boston Celtics -6.5