Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers Predictions, Picks and NBA Preview – December 22, 2016

Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers Betting Preview

Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

When: Thursday, December 22, 2016, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Boston Celtics (-1) at Indiana Pacers (+1); total: 211.0 – view all NBA lines

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Betting on the Boston Celtics (-1)

There’s just no stopping Boston right now. The Celtics extended their winning streak to three games with a nerve-wracking 112-109 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. Five players scored in double-figures for the Celtics who moved to within four games of the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the Atlantic Division standings. It was an impressive victory by the Celtics who rallied from a huge 17-point deficit.

Leading the way for the Celtics in this come-from-behind win was Isaiah Thomas. He scored a career-high 44 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor and 17-of-17 from the free-throw line. That’s the most points by a Boston player since Paul Pierce put up 50 in 2006. Thomas is clearly staking his claim as one of the league’s best players, averaging a team-best 26.6 points and 6.0 assists per game this season. He’s been superb during Boston’s current winning run, averaging 31.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds.

Thomas and the Celtics will look to sustain the momentum of that huge win when they face the Indiana Pacers tonight. Boston defeated Indiana in their first meeting this season, 105-99. Thomas scored 23 points in that ballgame on 4-of-13 shooting from the field.

The Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.

Betting on the Indiana Pacers (+1)

The Indiana Pacers had their two-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a gut-wrenching 118-111 loss to the New York Knicks. The Pacers had difficulty stopping Carmelo Anthony who matched a season high 35 points. It was a disappointing defeat for the Pacers who lost to the Knicks for the first time since March 2014.

They will look to get their season back on track when they lock horns with Boston later tonight. The Pacers will fancy their chances of doing just that as they have fared extremely well against the Celtics at home of late. They have won five of their last seven meetings with the Celtics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers, however, are just 3-4 ATS during that span.

It’s paramount for the Pacers that they play consistent basketball the entire 48 minutes against the Celtics. They had a great opportunity to record a season-best third straight win against New York but unfortunately collapsed down the stretch. The Pacers squandered a huge 15-point advantage in the third quarter of that contest as they fell to 1-6 this season on the second night of back-to-backs.

The onus then is on Paul George to lead the way for Indiana tonight. With Monta Ellis still sidelined with a right groin strain, the pressure is on George to carry the scoring cudgels for the Pacers. He averaged 25 points and 8.8 rebounds in four meetings with the Celtics last season. George didn’t suit up for Indiana in their first meeting with Boston this season.

The Pacers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Writer’s Prediction

Indiana (+1) wins, 104-98.

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