The Boston Celtics head into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers as a heavy favorite, and we're offering our top Pacers vs. Celtics player props based on the best NBA odds.
The Boston Celtics have been sitting around for days waiting to see who their opponent would be in the Eastern Conference Finals. With an 130-109 win in Game 7 against the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers head into Game 1 in Boston on Tuesday as a 9.5-point underdog.
The Celtics, who remain clear favorites by the NBA championship odds, hold home court advantage at TD Garden for the opening game of the series, set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). With Jayson Tatum the overwhelming favorite by the NBA Finals MVP odds, the Pacers could be in for a rude awakening.
Here are our best Pacers vs. Celtics player props and NBA picks (odds via our best NBA betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Pacers vs. Celtics Game 1 player props
- Jayson Tatum Over 16.5 rebounds + assists (+105 via DraftKings) ????
- Derrick White Over 16.5 points (-110 via DraftKings) ???
- Tyrese Haliburton Under 32.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115 via bet365) ???
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Pacers vs. Celtics prop bet predictions for Tuesday
Everyone has played a game of pickup with that person who has all the talent in the world, but would rather defer to teammates and let them get the glory. That's Tatum. He's selfless, which at times gets misconstrued as timid, and has be en setting others up throughout the playoffs.
With Boston's talent, Tatum has been happily pulling down boards and making plays for others through the Celtics' first 10 postseason games. They're 8-2 for a reason, while he's averaging a combined 16.2 rebounds and assists. Having topped 16.5 rebounds and assists in two of his last three games, I love this price at DraftKings.
This same prop is set at 15.5 at our other best sportsbooks with -136 odds on the Over. Those odds imply a 57.63% probability the Over hits, according to our odds converter, but with just one more rebound/assist, our odds pay $20.50 on a $10 bet.
Best odds: +105 via DraftKings
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The scary thing about betting on Celtics players to hit Overs is that on any given night, it could be any one of them that goes off. That's what makes them the most dangerous team in the NBA. It's sort of like dealing with the X-Men: would you rather be shredded by Wolverine, incinerated by Cyclops, or blasted by Jean Grey? Not really a good option there.
In this instance, Derrick White is like Nightcrawler – you're not expecting it to be him, but he's just as terrifying. White put up 18 in Boston's series-clinching Game 5 against Cleveland and is averaging 18.2 per game in the playoffs.
The Pacers' style lends to plenty of points for opponents, and Indiana gave up the most points to shooting guards during the regular season (24.11). These odds imply a 52.38% probability the Over hits with a $10 bet paying out $19.09.
Best odds: -110 via DraftKings
No more Spike Lee, no more references to Reggie Miller making the choking sign, and no more Stephen A. Smith tirades about the Knicks. (Well, that last one will probably still happen.) The Pacers now get the real test against the league's top team, and they need their best player to show some consistency.
Tyrese Haliburton's been sporadic in the playoffs, some nights hanging 35 and others not reaching double-digits. He's averaging 31.9 points, rebounds, and assists per game in the postseason and now has to take it to a Celtics team that was third in defensive ratin g this season (111.6).
I don't think Indiana's going to roll over, however, I think coming off a hard fought seven-game series and competing with a rested Boston squad is going to be difficult in Game 1. These odds imply a 53.49% probability the Under hits with a $10 bet paying $18.70.
Best odds: -115 via bet365
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Pacers vs. Celtics Game 1 info & odds
- When: Tuesday, May 21
- Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET
- Where: TD Garden (Boston)
- How to watch: ESPN
- Favorite: Celtics -9.5 (-110 via FanDuel)
Pacers-Celtics player props made Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET.
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