The NBA postseason of 2024 is currently underway, and the betting market for basketball is highly active. CBS Sports will be providing daily picks throughout the postseason, with Sam Quinn making at least one pick for every game leading up to the NBA Finals.
In the previous two series, the Celtics have dominated with impressive wins in Game 1, totaling a 45-point lead. On the other hand, the Pacers have faced losses in Game 1 of both their postseason series so far. With nearly a week of rest, the Celtics are in better shape compared to the Pacers, who just played a road Game 7. The statistics show that the Celtics have a superior performance record, with a 4-2 home game record and a significant point differential.Odds favor the Celtics -9.5 as the pick.
The Pacers and Celtics were strong offensive teams in the regular season, and they have maintained their offensive strength in the postseason. Despite Kristaps Porzingis’ injury posing a challenge as a key defender, the Pacers have shown their ability to engage in high-scoring games. Expectations are set for an Over 221.5 for this matchup.
The Celtics have a well-rounded starting lineup, with all five players capable of making significant impacts on offense. They have an advantage over defenders because they don’t need to specifically target defenders in pick-and-roll plays since their players possess an all-around threat
