The Indiana Pacers brought their best in a Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, and we're offering our top Pacers vs. Celtics parlay predictions based on the best NBA odds for Thursday's Game 2.
The Indiana Pacers will look for revenge in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). The Celtics enter the game as 9-point home favorites at TD Garden in Boston.
While they didn't play up to being the NBA championship odds favorites in Game 1, the Celtics did manage to pull off an OT victory behind an impressive performance from Jayson Tatum, who has the shortest 2024 NBA Finals MVP odds. Boston will need another big-time game from their star to keep this feisty Pacers squad at bay.
Along with our Pacers vs. Celtics player props and Jayson Tatum odds & player props, here are our best Pacers vs. Celtics parlay predictions for Game 2 (odds via our best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Pacers vs. Celtics parlay for Game 2
(Odds via bet365)
- Jayson Tatum to record a double-double (-225) ????
- Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 made 3-pointers (-110) ???
- Jaylen Brown Over 1.5 steals + blocks (-150) ???
Combined odds: +375 via bet365
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Would you believe me if I told you that the talking heads are still questioning Tatum after he carried Boston in OT to a Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals win? Things like “talented but not tough” and “coward” are being tossed his way leading up to Game 2.
It's as if putting up 36 points and 12 rebounds for your fourth-straight double-double in the NBA postseason is easy. In OT, it was clear Indiana couldn't handle his size, athleticism, and skill around the rim, and I expect the Pacers to have issues again.
Tatum's averaging a double-double during the 2024 playoffs with 25.4 points and 10.5 rebounds, which is why these odds are so short. But I like going with more of a lay-up for the first leg of an SGP. According to our odds convert er, these odds imply a 69.23% probability this leg hits.
The question around Haliburton entering the playoffs was whether he'd be able to return to his early season form before a hamstring injury seemed to derail his All-NBA type of play. It's been a bumpy road, but there've been moments where he's looked like Steve Nash throughout the playoffs.
One such moment was Game 1 against Boston, where his aggression, pace, and precision shooting kept Indiana in it until the end (the Pacers were a poor inbound pass away from a win). Haliburton hit six 3-pointers in the opening game and is averaging 3.6 makes per game during the postseason.
The Celtics have been susceptible to sharpshooting point guards, allowing the 11th-most threes to them in the regular-season (3.26). With Haliburton topping 3.5 made threes in seven of his last 11 games, the odds imply a 52.38% probability he'll do it again.
For as impressive as the Pacers offense was in Game 1 against the Celtics, things got messy at times. Indiana committed 22 turnovers and Boston had 11 steals, with Jaylen Brown picking up three of them while adding a block. The pace Indiana was playing with led to turnovers against the loaded Celtics defense.
Boston has several incredible defenders capable of putting pressure on Haliburton and Co., including Brown. After averaging 1.7 combined steals and blocks in the regular-season, he's topped 1.5 in five of 11 postseason games.
Given that Indiana allowed small forwards to average 2.18 steals and blocks this season, these odds imply a 60% probability that Brown will get at least two in Game 2. This leg brings the SGP to +375, which would return a $37.50 profit on a $10 wager if it hits and implies a win probability of 21.05%.
Pacers-Celtics SGP picks made Thursday at 10:20 a.m. ET.
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