The first In-Season Tournament continues, and the format keeps things interesting. We have just finished the group play phase as we enter the Knockout stage.
Things will be fun as we get the quarterfinals to start the week, the semifinals on Thursday, and the final on Sunday. All in a week to keep every fan on the edge of their seat.
As we get ready to watch the quarterfinals, we focus on a clash from the East side. The Indiana Pacers enter as the 2nd seed, product of being the Group A winners (4 wins and 0 losses). Their rivals, the Boston Celtics, 3rd seed, come from winning Group C with a 3-1 Run.
Whoever wins this match on Monday will prepare to face the winner between the Bucks and the Knicks on Thursday. So, we are getting ready to dive into the details to see what will happen in this first elimination stage of the tournament.
When:
Monday, December 12, 7:30 PM ET, at the Gainfield Fieldhouse
Moneyline odds:
Pacers +160
Celtics -190
Where Can I Watch it?
TNT Sports, ESPN, and NBA League Pass
Why Bet on the Pacers?
Indiana went a perfect 4-0 during group play, while Boston finished 3-1, meaning Tyrese Haliburton and Co. get to host this contest. That gives the Pacers a fighting chance, as the Celtics are a perfect 8-0 at home this season, yet only play slightly above .500 on the road (6-4).
A big game will be needed from Haliburton, who has to go against the best defensive guard combination in the league in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Why Bet on the Celtics?
Boston has allowed the second-fewest points in non-garbage time this season, limiting opponents to 107.7 points per 100 possessions. It is elite in every facet defensively.
It would seem that Boston is the perfect team to match up with Indiana. In the meeting with the Pacers this season, the Celtics used their elite transition defense to limit Indiana to 0.899 points per possession and 0.667 points per play in transition off live rebounds.Â
They were short-handed in a big way, though, as Tyrese Haliburton did not play.
Final Betting Analysis: Pacers vs. Celtics
The Pacers are scrappy and look like they’re finally ready to get back into the playoffs, but we’re just not sure they’re battle-tested enough to hang with Boston in this type of game. The Celtics know what the pressure of elimination is like, and they beat the Pacers by 51 points (51!) when they played Nov. 1.
Also, Indiana just lost at home, on two days rest, to the Portland Trail Blazers. Make of that what you will, and given how well the Celtics play on defense and their ability to take advantage of this defense, it is hard to look past Boston, even away from home.
Look for a win on the Celtics’ Moneyline. If you put $100 on them at -190, you’ll be looking at a $55.56 win with a total payout of $155.56.
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