Celtics vs Pacers

After an absolute clunker against the Orlando Magic, Jayson Tatum returns to give the Celtics offense a much-needed boost while in the midst of a losing.

[Al Horford](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/al-horford) [Jayson Tatum](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/jayson-tatum) [Jaylen Brown](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/jaylen-brown) [Derrick White](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/derrick-white) [Myles Turner](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/myles-turner) [Jalen Smith](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/jalen-smith) [Bennedict Mathurin](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/bennedict-mathurin) [Buddy Hield](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/buddy-hield) [Tyrese Haliburton](https://www.lineups.com/nba/player-stats/tyrese-haliburton) If Halburton can get out in transition and force Smart into chasing him rather than half court sets, then the Pacers should have no issue getting the offense flowing again. This has especially helped Buddy Hield’s shooting, giving him more open looks to develop him into a consistent lethal weapon from deep. He has been a dominant force as the primary ball handler, averaging 19.5 points per game and 10.7 assists.

The Pacers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning percentage over .600.

When it comes to scoring offenses, these are two of the lowest ones across the league. In four games back from an ankle injury, Ball has scored at least 23 points in each contest. The Pick: Over 223.5 (-110) -- These are two of the worst teams that the NBA has to offer -- but there are no standards when it comes to cashing winning tickets. I expect this to be a track meet of sorts with quite a few threes being made. Rest in peace to one of the top rushers that the sport has ever seen. When facing a team that has a home winning percentage above .600, the Pacers hold a 4-1 record ATS. TV: [NBA](/nba/).TV Oh, and Boston owns a 0-4-1 record ATS over those last five games. Indiana is actually 5-2 ATS over its last seven games again teams that hold a winning percentage above .600. It is unclear if those plans will be altered in the wake of his death. His death comes just two days before the 50th anniversary of Harris' "Immaculate Reception" against the Raiders back in 1972. Along with a celebration of that anniversary, the Steelers were scheduled to retire Harris' No.

The Indiana Pacers visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. We continue our NBA odds series with a Pacers-Celtics prediction and pick.

While Indiana has played poorly as of late, the Celtics have been just as bad. The one area they’ve struggled is on the glass with ranks of 20th in rebound differential and 21st in rebound rate. They’re averaging just 104.6 PPG over their last five which would be the lowest number in the league over the entire season. The Pacers are a strong offensive team that ranks 13th in scoring and 18th in offensive rating. The Pacer’s center is quietly having another strong season as he continues to be one of the most fearsome shot blockers in the league. The same can be said of Jaylen Brown who’s averaged 25.4 PPG over that same stretch. The Celtics are 18-13 against the spread while 52% of their games have gone over. Boston has struggled in recent games but is still firmly in the elite tier of NBA teams. The Pacers are 17-14 against the spread while 53% of their games have gone under. If Indiana is going to cover as heavy road underdogs, they’re going to have to score points in hopes of keeping up with Boston’s explosive offense. Boston, too, has lost four of their last five games but still resides in second place in the East. Indiana has lost four of their last five games to drop them to ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

The perplexing part of the recent downturn were the two L's Orlando put on Boston in consecutive games. Jayson Tatum did sit out the second game, but the strong ...

A healthy Brogdon will be even more valuable in that role at playoff time. This matchup will be an entirely different beast with the way the Celtics have played throughout the season. The Celtics recently dropped from the top spot in the East, but should be rested and healthy for the Pacers after two full days off at home. Jayson Tatum did sit out the second game, but the strong MVP candidate expects to be back for the Pacers. He’s proven to be more valuable than that so far. The Pacers are weathering their own four-losses-in-five-games stretch which has seen the blue and gold play quality ball for long stretches of games but come up short when it matters most at crunch time.

Jayson Tatum led the charge, scoring 28 of his game-high 41 points in the second half. Boston's increased and maintained aggression translated to 26 points in ...

Magic: Boston Stumbles Down the Stretch, Falling for the Fourth Time in Five Games](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/heres-what-stood-out-in-celtics-loss-vs-magic-boston-stumbles-down-the-stretch-falling-for-the-fourth-time-in-five-games) [Breaking Down the Top 5 Plays from Sunday's Celtics-Magic Game](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/breaking-down-the-top-5-plays-from-sundays-celtics-magic-game) Maintaining an aggressive approach led to 26 points in the paint and 22 on second-chance opportunities. [Rick Carlisle Has High Praise for Celtics' Sixth Man and Former Pacer Malcolm Brogdon](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/rick-carlisle-has-high-praise-for-celtics-sixth-man-and-former-pacer-malcolm-brogdon) [Celtics Discuss the Roots of Their Offensive Struggles and the Keys to Getting Back on Track](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/celtics-discuss-the-roots-of-their-offensive-struggles-and-the-keys-to-getting-back-on-track) [Celtics Fans Certainly Will Love What Robert Williams Said After Loss to Magic](https://www.si.com/nba/celtics/top-stories/celtics-fans-certainly-will-love-what-robert-williams-said-after-loss-to-magic) [Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Opens up After Boston's Second Straight Loss vs. That included what probably added up to leaving double-digits worth of points on the table on missed layups. In a clear sign of how comfortable Boston's guests were, the visitors repeatedly took time to celebrate their work after scoring. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post. The game tips off at 7:30 pm EST. The looks vary, but the points of emphasis are the team. Jayson Tatum led the charge, scoring 28 of his game-high 41 points in the second half. Wisely, Rick Carlisle called for a timeout after Horford's second make from beyond the arc. Boston's lack of confidence was evident as the hosts again failed to find solutions for how teams have recently defended them. Tyrese Haliburton entered the second quarter with 15 points, leading all scorers.

Jayson Tatum dropped 41 points in a near-comeback effort, but the Celtics couldn't erase a 30-point deficit vs. the Pacers on Wednesday night.