Boston (17-5) at Indiana (15-9)
When: Wednesday, December 11th, 2019
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse,
Indianapolis, IN
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: NBCS Boston
Opening Odds: Indiana -1/209.5
The Boston Celtics are one of three unbeaten teams at home, but they’ve been just above average on the road. They look to improve their 7-5 record away from home when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night in a battle of Eastern Conference powers. When the Celtics are healthy, look out. Even when they’re down a man or two, they’re hard to beat. Boston lost All-Star Gordon Hayward for the entire 2018-19 season and he went down just eight games into this season, but is back to help the Celtics get back to another title run. Hayward returned from a fractured hand to score 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Celtics’ 110-88 win over Cleveland on Monday night to give Boston their fourth win in a row and keep their slim lead atop the Atlantic Division. The Pacers have been muddling along with a 3-3 mark in their last six games and opened a tough two-game homestand with a 110-99 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. It was just the first time since Nov. 16 that they’ve been held to under 100 points. Indiana has failed to cover the spread in their last three games and are 6-5-1 ATS at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season (9-3 SU). Boston has won each of the last seven meetings including a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Kemba Walker led Boston with 22 points in the win over Cleveland while dishing out seven assists, as the team shot a season-high 57.7 percent while making 15-of-27 3-pointers. Boston got a little lazy after building a 29-point lead, but head coach Brad Stevens got Walker back up off the bench midway through the fourth quarter, and the Celtics pulled away from there. Forward Jayson Tatum contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, but guard Marcus Smart missed the game with an eye infection and is day-to-day.
Forward Domantas Sabonis did his best to keep the Pacers in the game against the Clippers on Monday by grabbing a career-high 22 rebounds while scoring 18 points. Sabonis is tied for third in the NBA with 13.5 rebounds per game entering Tuesday’s action. Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 20 points, but the team shot just 35.4 percent from the field. Small forward Doug McDermott tried to provide a spark off the bench with 17 points including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, where he’s hitting 46.8 percent on the season – fifth in the NBA.
With Hayward back, the Celtics are even better than what they’ve shown already. The Pacers have struggled to shoot the ball lately and Boston has one of the top defenses in the league. Plus, the Celtics have owned the Pacers lately. I’ll take the road team here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Wednesday. He is 28-19-2 on the season!
Pick: Celtics +1.5
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog.
Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Celtics are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Celtics are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Celtics are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
Celtics are 33-14-4 ATS in their last 51 Wednesday games.
Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Wednesday games.
Pacers are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Pacers are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pacers are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pacers are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Pacers are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 6-1 in Celtics last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-1 in Celtics last 6 games as a road underdog.
Under is 7-2 in Celtics last 9 Wednesday games.
Under is 16-5 in Celtics last 21 games as an underdog.
Under is 16-5 in Celtics last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 9-3 in Celtics last 12 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Celtics last 8 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Pacers last 4 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Pacers last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Pacers last 4 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Pacers last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Under is 8-2 in Pacers last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in Pacers last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 22-7 in Pacers last 29 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 3-1-1 in Pacers last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 3-1-1 in Pacers last 5 Wednesday games.
Under is 5-2 in Pacers last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 36-17-1 in Pacers last 54 games as a home favorite.
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Indiana.
Celtics are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Indiana.
Celtics are 4-0-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
