Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 1 Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (5/21): Will Boston’s Ascent Continue?

Today's Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 predictions and best bets are brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NBA playoffs to the UFC odds and everything in between.

The 2023-24 NBA Eastern Conference Finals finally begin on Tuesday as the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are set to collide for Game 1 at TD Garden with an 8 p.m. ET start time.

PACERS 🆚 CELTICS

The Eastern Conference finals are set 🍿 pic.twitter.com/QFp5NEhLby

— ESPN (@espn) May 19, 2024

The Pacers overcame the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks to make their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 2013-14 campaign. Meanwhile, the Celtics have reached the postseason's third round for the sixth time in eight years after disposing of the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Can Indiana pull off one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs? Or will Boston continue its impressive dominance over the league?

The Eastern Conference Finals begin with Game 1 tonight, so let's dive into my Pacers vs. Celtics predictions and the best NBA bets you can make.

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Betting Tonight (5/21)

Pacers vs Celtics Game 1 Information

• Matchup: No. 6 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Boston Celtics (Series tied 0-0)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
• Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
• Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Pacers vs. Celtics Game 1: ESPN, ESPN2

Celtics vs Pacers NBA Game 1 Betting Odds & Spread

Celtics vs. Pacers NBA odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Tuesday, May 21 at 9:15 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Pacers vs Celtics Spread

• Indiana Pacers +10 (-105)
• Boston Celtics -10 (-115)

Celtics vs Pacers Over/Under

• Over 221.5 Points (-105)
• Under 221.5 Points (-115)

Pacers vs Celtics Moneyline

• Indiana Pacers (+380)
• Boston Celtics (-470)

You might also like: NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals Odds & Predictions

---

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Betting Trends

• Indiana is 4-10 straight up in its last 14 games vs. Boston.
• Boston is 17-3 straight up in its last 20 home games.
• Indiana is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games played on Tuesday.
• Boston is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games vs. Indiana.
• The total hit the Over in 10 of Indiana's last 13 games played in May.
• The total hit the Over in 14 of Boston's last 20 games vs. the Eastern Conference.

Pacers vs Celtics Game 1 Predictions & NBA Picks Today (5/21)

The Pacers head into tonight's game as major underdogs at TD Garden. BetOnline is heavily favoring the Celtics to take a 1-0 NBA ECF series lead at -470 odds, which carry an implied win probability of 82.5%.

Nevertheless, the Pacers and Celtics are set to re-engage after colliding five times during the 2023-24 regular season. The series was back and forth but Boston had the edge in the end, winning three of the matchups. Interestingly enough, the C's won both of the matchups at TD Garden, first notching a massive 155-104 victory back in November before defeating the Pacers 129-124 in January.

Playing in Boston has been tough on Indiana for over half a decade at this point. Since January 2019, the Pacers have dropped 10 of 11 trips to TD Garden, being outscored by an average of 12.5 points per game. In fact, they haven't won in Beantown since December 2022.

The Pacers were also in action more recently, which could plague them. After all, they're only. 7-10 SU (41.2%) when playing with a rest disadvantage whereas the Celtics are 26-3 SU (89.7%) when having more time off than their opponents.

How will inequal rest affect the Pacers in Game 1? 

The Pacers are boasting one of the better postseason offenses, but scoring against the Celtics won't be easy tonight. Boston surrendered a minuscule 96.7 points per game through the first two rounds, allowing its opponents to only shoot 44.9% from the floor and 33.8% from deep.

Indiana's defense was just below average in Rounds 1 or 2, ranking fourth-worst in points, seventh-worst in field-goal percentage, and fifth-worst in three-point percentage allowed this postseason.

The Celtics simply have too many all-star options — from Jayson Tatum to Derrick White — to contain. Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined again with a calf injury, Boston has more than enough talent to give Indiana plenty of headaches.

To me, it's a no-brainer to back the Celtics to win Game 1. They've been nearly unstoppable at TD Garden throughout the 2023-24 schedule and haven't even broken a sweat in the playoffs. The Celtics also have had more rest than the Pacers, which could be an advantage after the latter's grueling series with the Knicks.

With that in mind, let's also take the Celtics to cover the 10-point spread. Again, they outscored the Pacers by nearly 13 PPG in their last 11 clashes in Boston. Additionally, Indiana is only 7-10 ATS with a rest disadvantage this year. Considering how they beat the Pacers by 50-plus points at home earlier this season, take the C's to cover.

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 1 Prediction: BOS wins

Best Pacers vs Celtics NBA Bet: BOS -10 (-115)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on your Pacers vs Celtics NBA picks today at BetOnline

Best Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 1 Prop Bet (5/21)

It's a big number to surpass, but I'm taking the Over on Jayson Tatum's 10.5-rebound total (+112) for the best Pacers vs. Celtics Game 1 player prop.

Tatum leads all Celtics with 10.4 rebounds per game in the playoffs and his performances have only improved as time goes on. The 26-year-old superstar is averaging a 10.8 RPG clip across his last eight games, finishing with the Over six times. He now gets to face the Pacers, who are collecting the fifth-fewest rebounds in the playoffs.

Having hit the Over in four of his last six games against the Pacers, it's easy to see why you should sprinkle some action on this Tatum prop.

Best Pacers vs Celtics Game 1 Prop Bet: Jayson Tatum o10.5 Total Rebounds (+112)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on your NBA player prop picks today at BetOnline

---

Pacers vs Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Schedule

• Game 1: @ TD Garden — Tuesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)
• Game 2: @ TD Garden — Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 3: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 4: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN2)
• Game 5: @ TD Garden — Wednesday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 6: @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse — Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
• Game 7: @ TD Garden — Sunday, June 2 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)