We are officially down to the elite eight of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. To kick off the quarterfinals, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics will travel to Indianapolis to face Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.
Haliburton and the league-leading Pacers offense dominated the group play stage of the tournament, going 4-0 en route to becoming the first team to advance to the knockout rounds. Can they keep it going against the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics?
Here are the latest NBA odds and best bets for Celtics vs Pacers.
Celtics vs Pacers NBA In-Season Tournament Odds
NBA odds used for these best bets are current as of Thursday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. ET and were found at FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Celtics (-215) • Pacers (+180)
- Spread: Celtics -5 (-110) • Pacers +5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 236.5 (-110) • Under 236.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Pacers In-Season Tournament Prediction
Pacers 131, Celtics 124
The Pacers have no problem getting into track meets and shootouts with their opponents, leading the NBA in pace (104.4). While they’re first in the NBA in points per game (127.9), they also rank last in opponent points per game (125.8).
In other words, the Pacers are not equipped to beat a team as offensively skilled as the Celtics in a defensive battle. They’ll simply have to outscore them.
Haliburton averages 38.8 combined points and assists per game, proving he can be a foundational offensive piece for the Pacers on a nightly basis. Expect him to continue his dominant play and lead Indiana to an impressive home victory over Boston.
Celtics vs Pacers In-Season Tournament Bets
Over 236.5 (-110)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 2 Units
The Pacers have scored at least 121 points in their four In-Season Tournament games, including a 157-152 win against the Hawks. Haliburton’s willingness to get out in transition and create easy opportunities for himself and his teammates has made the Pacers one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA.
Combine Indiana’s propensity to put up points in a hurry with their inability to make stops on the defensive end against a Celtics team that has four talented scorers between Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday, and you have a recipe for the Over.
Prepare for a high-scoring game and make this your NBA bet of the day.
Pacers +5 (-110)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Pacers have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2023-24 NBA campaign, looking like a legitimate playoff team thus far. A win against the Celtics on a stage like the In-Season Tournament would be a massive statement for a young and hungry Indiana squad.
While I expect the Pacers to win the game outright, the five-point insurance is a luxury with them being home underdogs.
Celtics vs Pacers In-Season Tournament Prop Bet
Tyrese Haliburton: Over 3.5 Threes (-138)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Haliburton has arguably been the most outstanding performer of the In-Season Tournament thus far and is primed for another impressive showing against the Celtics. In four tournament games, he’s averaged 5.3 made three-pointers per game on 11.3 attempts.
Not to mention, Haliburton has made at least five threes in five of his past seven games. He should have no problem exceeding this total yet again in the quarterfinals of the Knockout Round.
