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Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions – December 26
The Boston Celtics travel to Indianapolis on Friday night to face the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tipoff set for December 26. This is a quick rematch after Boston stormed back from a massive deficit earlier this week, and it highlighted the gap between these teams right now. Boston keeps responding. Indiana keeps unraveling.
The Pacers enter this game on a six-game losing streak and continue to struggle offensively. Boston, meanwhile, looks comfortable winning games in different ways, even when the early flow isn’t ideal. From a betting perspective, this matchup is about reliability. One team offers it. The other doesn’t.
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Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Odds
These are the current betting lines for Friday’s matchup, but bettors should always monitor movement and compare prices using the latest NBA odds leading up to tipoff.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | -333 | -8.5 (-110) | U 220.5 (-110) |
| Indiana Pacers | +268 | +8.5 (-110) | O 220.5 (-110) |
Boston Celtics Betting Form
Boston continues to profile as one of the most dependable teams in the league for bettors. The Celtics defend without fouling, rebound well enough to limit second-chance points, and rarely allow turnovers to snowball into long opponent runs. Even when the offense stalls, the defensive floor stays intact.
Jaylen Brown has carried the offense late in games, especially after halftime, which matters when laying points. Boston’s depth has also shown up repeatedly, including in the last meeting when the bench helped flip momentum. Those trends are consistent with what shows up on the Boston Celtics team page.
Availability still matters, so bettors should closely monitor the Boston Celtics injury report before locking anything in.
Indiana Pacers Betting Form
Indiana’s problems start with efficiency. The Pacers rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, field-goal percentage, and three-point accuracy. That combination makes covering spreads extremely difficult, especially against disciplined defensive teams.
There have been brief stretches where Indiana looks competitive. The pace increases, the ball moves, and shots fall. But it doesn’t last. Late-game execution has been shaky, turnovers creep in, and cold shooting wipes out early leads. Those patterns are reflected clearly on the Indiana Pacers team page.
Health adds another layer of concern. Rotation absences have exposed how thin Indiana’s margin can be, making it essential for bettors to track the Indiana Pacers injury report leading up to tipoff.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is about control more than pace. Boston is comfortable slowing games down, protecting the paint, and forcing Indiana into contested perimeter looks. The Pacers want tempo, but tempo requires stops, and stops have been hard to come by.
Boston’s defensive shot profile lines up well against an Indiana team struggling from deep. If the Pacers aren’t scoring early or getting to the free-throw line, possessions stall quickly. On the other end, Boston’s spacing and patience tend to wear teams down over four quarters.
Key matchup edges:
- Boston limits second-chance opportunities
- Celtics depth neutralizes short Pacers runs
- Late-game shot creation heavily favors Boston
For bettors wanting deeper context on how these edges affect pricing, the NBA betting guide is a useful reference.
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Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Predictions and Best Bets
The real question isn’t whether Indiana can compete for a half. It’s whether they can sustain offense for 48 minutes. Right now, that’s a tough sell. Boston doesn’t need perfect execution to create separation, and their ability to respond after slow starts makes laying points reasonable.
The spread reflects Indiana’s offensive struggles and Boston’s consistency. Even on the road, the Celtics have shown they can grind teams down once execution starts to matter more than energy. The total leans under as well, given Indiana’s scoring issues and Boston’s defensive discipline.
Best Bet: Boston Celtics -8.5 (-110).
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