The No. 6 seed Indiana Pacers look to even their 2024 NBA playoffs series against the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Celtics defeated the Pacers 133-128 in overtime. These teams matched up five times in the regular season, with Boston owning a 3-2 edge over Indiana. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains out for Boston.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are 8.5-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Pacers odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Before making any Pacers vs. Celtics picks, be sure to check out what legendary SportsLine handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall, who was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter, vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 190-141 run that has returned more than $3,500 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has set his sights on Pacers vs. Celtics and just locked in his picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Pacers:
- Pacers vs. Celtics spread: Boston -8.5
- Pacers vs. Celtics over/under: 225.5 points
- Pacers vs. Celtics money line: Boston -385, Indiana +303
- BOS: The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in the past five games
- IND: The Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games
- Pacers vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Guard Derrick White is able to be effective in multiple different ways. White has good ball handles to break down the defender with a nice jumper on the outside. He is logging 17.9 points, 4.3 assists, and shooting 43% from 3-point land in the postseason. In the Game 1 win, White had 15 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.
Guard Jrue Holiday provides Boston with a veteran two-way threat in the backcourt. Holiday has the ability to be a disruptive defender with the instincts to make plays on both ends. The UCLA product is putting up 12 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 steals in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Holiday totaled 28 points, seven boards, eight assists, and three steals in Tuesday's win over the Pacers. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pacers can cover
Guard TJ. McConnell has been an energetic force off the bench all year long. McConnell is a hard-nosed defender who will put his body on the line to make plays for his team. He's a selfless player with good passing ability, and the Arizona product is averaging 10.9 points and 5.2 assists in the postseason. In his last game, he had 13 points, three boards, and four assists.
Guard Andrew Nembhard is an athletic ball handler who provides the team with a nimble facilitator. He excels in transition and can knock down perimeter jumpers. In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Nembhard is putting up 12.9 points and five assists per game. In Game 1, the 24-year-old totaled 12 points and seven dimes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pacers vs. Celtics picks
Marshall is going Over on the point total. He's discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the point spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Celtics spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned more than $3,500 on his NBA picks, and find out.
