NBA Betting Jan 6: Celtics vs Pacers Prediction & Pick Insights

Boston Celtics (27-7 SU, 16-16 ATS) vs. Indiana Pacers (20-14 SU, 20-14 ATS)

When: Saturday, January 6th, 7:00 PM (ET)

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, IN, Indianapolis

TV: NBCS

Point Spread: Bos -5.5/Ind +5.5

Total: 247

Money Line: Boston Celtics -211/+170

Notable Injuries

Celtics

None

Pacers

• Andrew Nembhard (Questionable) Back

Recent Form

As the Celtics get ready to take on the Pacers, they are sitting in 1st place in the Eastern Conference at 27-7. When playing on the road, Boston has put together a record of 10-7 this season.

The Celtics will be looking to pick up another win as they head into the game as 5.5-point favorites. So far, they have an average scoring differential of +6.2 points per game as the favorite (10.2 points as the favorite).

Against the spread, Boston is 16-16 for the season. On the road, they have gone 10-6 ATS compared to a perfect 17-0 straight up at home. Their straight-up winning streak is currently at 17 games.

So far, 34% of their games have gone over today’s over/under line of 247 points. Their average over/under line for the season has been 229 points, and their OU record for the season is 19-15.

Heading into today’s matchup vs. the Celtics, the Pacers find themselves in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Indiana has put together six straight wins and are 20-14 overall.

When playing at home, the Pacers have been slightly better in both the straight-up and ATS standings. Indiana’s average scoring margin at home is +8.6 points per game, and they have an 11-7 record at home. Indy’s ATS record for the season is also positive at 20-14, and they have each of their last six games.

So far, the Pacers have been the underdog in 17 of their 34 games and have gone 10-7 vs. the spread in those games. The average scoring margin for them as the underdog is -3.6 points per game.

Against other teams in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers have gone 17-10 this season compared to 3-4 in non-conference matchups. The over/under record in their games this season is 24-10, and the over has hit in two straight games. So far, 25 of their games have had lower over/under lines than today’s line of 247. Their average over/under line for the season has been 243.8.

The Historicals

Although the Pacers have the better ATS mark across the previous five head-head matchups at 3-2, the average scoring margin sits in favor of Boston, as they averaged 128 points per game while allowing 115. Over the course of these games, they averaged 243 points per game, leading a 2-3 over-under record.

Analysis

Boston’s offense was impressive in their most recent game vs. the Jazz, putting up 126 points. They shot 43.3% from the field and went 31/36 from the free-throw line. In terms of three-pointers, the Celtics are averaging 43 attempts per game and are hitting 37% of them this season.

This season, the Celtics defense has been impressive, holding the 3rd position in the league while permitting an average of 110.4 points per contest. In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Celtics defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 50.9% while allowing 36.3% from downtown.

In their most recent game, the Pacers put up 150 points against the Hawks, which is well above their season average of 127.6 points per game. Myles Turner led the way for the Pacers with 27 points, while Bennedict Mathurin added 18 points.

At present, the Pacers’ defense is ranked 29th, allowing 124.4 points per game. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Pacers squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 56.0% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 37.6% from downtown.

Betting Trends

• Across the Celtics’ last ten road games, the team averaged 122 points per game while allowing 115. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 4-6, while going 5-5 straight-up.
• Indiana has played well in their previous five home games, going 3-2 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 115 points per game while allowing 115. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
• In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Pacers have a strong straight-up record of 3-0. In addition, their ATS record was 3-0 in these scenarios.
• Although the Celtics have a strong straight-up record in their last five games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 2-3.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

Both teams played last night and cruised to easy wins. Luckily for the Pacers, they will be hosting this game, as the Celtics have been unbeatable at home. Indiana is red-hot right now, winners of five straight, and I see them covering the spread tonight as +5.5 point underdogs.