Celtics vs Pacers: This series has gone exactly how many assumed it would. The Pacers trail 3-0 going into a must-win matchup on Monday night to keep their hopes of an NBA finals berth alive. Can the Celtics complete a dominant sweep, or will the Pacers be able to hang on by a thread?
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of game 4.
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Celtics vs Pacers: Game info
Date: Monday, May 27th
Time: 8:00PM ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TV channel: ESPN
Celtics vs Pacers: Betting info
Spread: Boston Celtics -8 (-108) | Indiana Pacers +8 (-112)
Moneyline: Boston Celtics -325 | Indiana Pacers +260
Total: Over/Under 222 points
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Celtics vs Pacers: Betting preview
It’s been a tough-to-stomach series for the Pacers. Indiana has only lost one game in blowout fashion, with the other two being 3 and 5-point decisions. Game 3 was especially heartbreaking, with the Pacers leading by as much as 18 at one point only to surrender it in the dying moments and miss a crucial 3-pointer right at the end. The game was there for the taking and you have to feel this might have knocked the wind out of Indiana’s sails.
The Pacers have hardly been bad, either. 4 players eclipsed the 20-point mark on Saturday, with Pascal Siakam playing a key role supporting Andrew Nembhard’s 32-point outing. Nembhard’s offensive explosion negated the loss of Tyrese Haliburton, but just wasn’t quite enough on the night which makes you wonder what more the team has to do to thwart the dominant Celtics.
We don’t yet know if the esteemed Haliburton will return for game 4. He led the league in assists this season and while the Pacers did a remarkable job of shining without him, getting someone as valuable as the selfless point guard back would be huge given the magnitude of this game.
When looking at Boston, it’s hard to find many faults. Jrue Holiday has been great this series, while Jayson Tatum’s series-high 36 points spearheaded the comeback in Game 3. It’s the second time he’s clipped this mark in the series, and he led the team in rebounds, points, AND assists – something he’s now done more than any other Celtic in history.
Boston’s dominance is hard to stop and coming back from an 18-point deficit on Saturday night is something that really counts for a lot. It’s rare to see the Celtics struggle, so the fact they were able to get back up and grind out a win speaks volumes about their character and only inspires more confidence that they’re built for a Championship run.
Celtics vs Pacers: Betting pick
An 8-point spread does feel like a lot given how hard the Pacers fought in game 3. I can see this game either being another nailbiter or a total blowout depending on how the team responds to this kind of adversity. But to play it safe, I’m going to take the points and back Indiana to stay alive for as long as possible, sneaking inside this spread knowing that this is do-or-die.
Betting pick: Indiana Pacers +8
Best Celtics vs Pacers betting offers
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AP Photo/Charles Krupa
