Celtics vs Pacers Prediction

Indiana Pacers (10-8) vs Boston Celtics (15-4)

Game Info: Monday, December 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)

Betting Odds: Indiana Pacers +5.5 -- Over/Under: 235

The Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers collide in the NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday night. Here's a Celtics vs Pacers prediction.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have been in great form as they've won 10 of their past 12 games overall and they will be gunning for a fourth straight victory after beating the 76ers in a 125-119 win on Friday. Jayson Tatum led the team with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists on six of nine shooting, Derrick White added 21 points with five assists while Al Horford and Jaylen Brown scored 20 points each. As a team, the Celtics shot 50 percent from the field and 16 of 33 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 44 points in the first quarter to take the early lead, but they couldn't shake off the 76ers until they closed the final 2:09 on an 8-3 run to escape with the narrow win in the end.

Boston Celtics Player Facts

• Jayson Tatum ranks 3rd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for points per game (27.4) this season.
• Jrue Holiday ranks 5th amongst qualified Guards for rebounds per game (7.2) this season.

Indiana Pacers

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers have been in decent shape as they've split their last 10 games and they will be hoping to build some momentum after blowing past the Heat in a 144-129 road win on Saturday. Bruce Brown led the team with 30 points on 11 of 16 shooting, Obi Toppin added 22 points on seven of eight shooting while Aaron Nesmith and TJ McConnell scored 20 points apiece. As a team, the Pacers shot a sizzling 65 percent from the field and 16 of 32 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 40 points in the second quarter and another 41 points in the third to outpace the shorthanded Heat in their best offensive performance of the season. The only blemish from the win was Andrew Nembhard who scored just four points on one of nine shooting.

Indiana Pacers Player Facts

• Myles Turner ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for Blocks Per Game (2.1) this season.
• Buddy Hield ranks 18th amongst qualified players for three-pointers made Per Game (2.9) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pacers rank 1st in the league for points per game this season (128.8).
• The Pacers rank 30th in the league for opponent points per game this season (125.9).
• The Celtics rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+9.4).
• The Celtics rank 1st in the league for opponent free throw percentage this season (72.0%).

Celtics vs Pacers prediction

The Celtics are still going to be shorthanded with Kristaps Porzingis ruled as inactive, while the Pacers are keeping eyes on Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin who are both questionable. The Celtics come into this meeting as the team in better form as they're one of the hottest teams in the league despite the injury to Porizingis, while the Pacers have been playing decent basketball, but they could again be missing their best player in Haliburton. The Pacers were good enough to get past the shorthanded Heat without Haliburton on Saturday, but I don't think they're good enough to get past this red-hot Celtics team at the moment.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.