Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics NBA Prediction, Pick and Preview, February 23rd, 2023

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The Indiana Pacers return home and will host the Boston Celtics at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night to play their first game after the All-Star break. These teams already faced each other earlier season in Boston where the Pacers stole the win 117-112.  Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and the Indiana Pacers opened a 30-point lead in the first half. Former Celtics player Aaron Nesmith had 15 points, Chris Duarte added 14 and Myles Turner had 10 to help the Pacers win.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are 18-17 against conference opponents, and they have been led by Jalen Smith, who averages 1.7 offensive rebounds per game. They have struggled in their last 10 games, winning only 2 and losing 8, with an average of 111.4 points per game. On the other hand, the Celtics have gone 25-12 against Eastern Conference opponents and have averaged 117.9 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 6.2 points per game. In their last 10 games, the Celtics have won 7 and lost 3, with an average of 119.0 points per game.

Buddy Hield has been the top performer for the Pacers, averaging 3.8 made 3-pointers per game and scoring 17.5 points while shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc. Tyrese Haliburton has also been a key player for the Pacers, averaging 19.9 points, 10 assists, and 1.8 steals over the past 10 games. Meanwhile, Marcus Smart has been a consistent contributor for the Celtics, averaging 11.1 points and 7.1 assists. Jayson Tatum has been the Celtics' top scorer, averaging 27.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 45.1% over the past 10 games.

The Indiana Pacers have struggled in their last 10 games, winning only 2 and losing 8. During this stretch, they have averaged 111.4 points, which is slightly below their season average of 112.9 points per game. Their rebounding and assist numbers have been fairly consistent with their season averages, as they are averaging 38.6 rebounds and 26.0 assists per game.

However, the Pacers' defense has been a major issue in their last 10 games. They have allowed an average of 118.7 points per game to their opponents, which is significantly higher than their season average of 114.3 points per game. This suggests that the Pacers have been struggling on the defensive end and are allowing their opponents to score at will.

In addition to their defensive struggles, the Pacers have also been struggling with turnovers. They are averaging 14.4 turnovers per game during this stretch, which is higher than their season average of 13.4 turnovers per game. Turnovers have been a major issue for the Pacers this season, as they rank 27th in the league in turnover differential, with an average of -2.4 turnovers per game.

Despite their recent struggles, the Pacers have a talented roster and have shown that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the league. 

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a team that has been one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference for several seasons now. Led by their star forward Jayson Tatum, who is averaging 30.6 points per game, the Celtics have a high-powered offense that is capable of scoring points in bunches. They have been especially dominant against Eastern Conference opponents, going 25-12 in conference play.

In addition to Tatum, the Celtics have a strong supporting cast that includes Marcus Smart, who is averaging 11.1 points and 7.1 assists per game. The Celtics also have a solid defense, with a team average of 5.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game. However, they will be without key players Jaylen Brown and Danilo Gallinari due to injury, which could impact their performance in this game.

The Boston Celtics have been playing some of their best basketball in their last 10 games, winning 7 and losing only 3. During this stretch, they have been averaging an impressive 119.0 points per game, which is significantly higher than their season average of 116.0 points per game. This suggests that the Celtics have been firing on all cylinders offensively and are capable of putting up big numbers against any team.

In addition to their high-scoring offense, the Celtics have also been dominant on the boards, averaging 47.9 rebounds per game during their last 10 games. This is significantly higher than their season average of 45.9 rebounds per game and suggests that the Celtics have been playing with a high level of energy and intensity on both ends of the court.

The Celtics' defense has also been impressive during their last 10 games, as they are averaging 5.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game. This indicates that the Celtics have been aggressive on the defensive end and have been disrupting their opponents' offensive game plans.

BETTING TRENDS

Boston are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games against Indiana.

Boston are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Indiana.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games on the road.

Boston are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana.

Indiana are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Indiana's last 6 games.

Indiana are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games.

Indiana are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home.

Prediction

Based on the current stats, the Celtics are the stronger team and have been playing better in their last 10 games. However, the Pacers have already beaten the Celtics once this season and will have the advantage of playing at home. With the Celtics dealing with several injuries, the Pacers may have an opportunity to keep the game close and cover the spread.

Jayson Tatum will be the key player to watch for the Celtics, as he has been on a tear this season, averaging 30.6 points per game. If he can continue his dominant play, the Celtics will have a good chance to win this game. On the other hand, the Pacers will need Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton to have big games if they want to compete with the Celtics.

In the end, while the Celtics are expected to win, the Pacers will likely cover the spread. The Celtics may have the stronger overall team, but the Pacers have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the league. With the Celtics missing key players due to injury, the Pacers could keep the game close and make things interesting until the final buzzer.

PICK: Pacers +8 (-110)

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