The Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics have played to five straight UNDER results on the NBA betting lines as those teams renew hostilities on the hardwood on Saturday night.
Indiana is 2-0 both SU and ATS against Boston so far this season, winning 97-82 on the road on November 22 and 106-79 at home on December 22. The improved the Pacers to 5-5 both SU and ATS in their last 10 games against the Celtics since 2011.
Supporters of the Pacers have seen them go 44-13 and 33-23-1 ATS so far this season, while the Celtics are at 20-39 and 28-30-1 ATS. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). In totals betting, the Celtics are 24-35, while the Pacers are 25-30-2.
View Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics Odds and Stats.
The Pacers were listed as -8-point favorites at many online sportsbooks (including Sportsbook), with the total listed at 193 earlier in the day (check Sportsbook for updates during the day).
The Celtics - Pacers odds would favor the Pacers if the lines were set according to power ranks. Boston is rated No. 19 in our latest Odds Shark poll, while the Pacers sit at No. 4. Math models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 96-86 win for the Pacers.
Indiana won its last outing, a 101-96 result against the Bucks on February 27. The Pacers failed to cover in that game as a 15.5-point favorite, while the 197 combined points took the game OVER the total. Indiana got 24 points and 12 rebounds from Roy Hibbert en route to a 101-96 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Last time out for Boston, they were a 115-104 Sportsbook as they battled the Hawks at home. The Celtics covered in the match as a 2.5-point favorite, while 219 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Celtics got a 29-point performance from Jerryd Bayless as Boston ran past Atlanta 115-104 on Wednesday at TD Garden.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Boston's No. 25-ranked offense, averaging 95.44 PPG, against a Pacers defense that ranks No. 1 at 91.12 PPG. The Celtics field goal percentage has averaged 43.51% so far, less than the Pacers shooters have achieved on the year, 45.42% per game.
Next up:
Indiana home to Utah, Sunday, March 2nd
Boston home to Golden State, Wednesday, March 5th
