Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 2 Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (5/23): Boston Eyes 2-0 Series Lead

Today's Pacers vs. Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 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.

Game 2 of the 2023-24 NBA Eastern Conference Finals goes down at TD Garden tonight when the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics collide at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

GAME WON ✅#DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/Ke2dvzwdze

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 22, 2024

The Celtics needed overtime to secure a 133-128 victory over the Pacers in Game 1. The teams traded buckets throughout the game as Jayson Tatum recorded game-highs in points (36) and rebounds (12) while Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown tallied 28 and 26 points, respectively.

Can Indiana even the series before returning home? Or will Boston take to the road with a 2-0 lead?

It's Pacers vs. Celtics Game 2 tonight and everything you need to know — from game predictions to the best NBA bets — is below.

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Betting Tonight (5/23)

Pacers vs Celtics Game 2 Information

• Matchup: No. 6 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Boston Celtics (BOS leads 1-0)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
• Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
• Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Pacers vs. Celtics Game 2: ESPN

Celtics vs Pacers NBA Game 1 Betting Odds & Spread

Celtics vs. Pacers NBA odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Thursday, May 23 at 10:47 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Pacers vs Celtics Spread

• Indiana Pacers +9 (-115)
• Boston Celtics -9 (-105)

Celtics vs Pacers Over/Under

• Over 224.5 Points (-110)
• Under 224.5 Points (-110)

Pacers vs Celtics Moneyline

• Indiana Pacers (+315)
• Boston Celtics (-385)

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NBA Best Bets and Picks Today

Looking to get in on even more NBA picks tonight? Check out our NBA Picks page for consensus picks for every 2023-24 playoff game.

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Pacers vs Celtics NBA Betting Trends

• Indiana is 1-11 straight up in its last 12 road games vs. Boston.
• Boston is 8-1 straight up in its last nine games.
• Indiana is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games played in May.
• Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last five games vs. Indiana.
• The total hit the Over in 13 of Indiana's last 18 games vs. the Eastern Conference.
• The total hit the Over in 13 of Boston's last 19 games vs. Indiana.

Pacers vs Celtics Game 2 Predictions & NBA Picks Today (5/23)

The Celtics were 10-point favorites ahead of Game 1, but things wound up being closer than projected. The Pacers didn't go down without a fight and even led by three points with less than a minute to go, forcing the Celtics to tie the game with six seconds remaining before going on to win in the extra frame.

If Boston wants to avoid a similar scare, it must capitalize on its opportunities. The Celtics were the poorer team when it came to scoring efficiency in Game 1, shooting 47.5% from the floor and 33.3% from deep whereas the Pacers tallied marks of 53.5% and 37.1%, respectively.

It certainly didn't help that Al Horford and Derrick White shot a combined 10-of-28 (35.7%) from the floor which included going 6-for-20 (30.0%) from the three-point line.

The C's also couldn't capitalize on the opposition's miscues. Despite the Pacers recording 22 turnovers, the Celtics only scored 21 points off them. For reference, Indiana tallied 32 points off of 15 Boston turnovers.

Can the Celtics be more efficient with the ball tonight? 

The fact that the Pacers couldn't successfully close out Game 1 isn't all that surprising. Playing at TD Garden has been a struggle for them throughout the last several years, highlighted by a 1-11 SU record across their last 12 trips to Boston.

While the Pacers will play tonight with a complete lineup, the Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis (calf). Having said that, the good news for them is that Boston is still 22-3 SU in the last 25 games he's missed and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski is now reporting that Porzingis could return by Game 4.

Taking all of the above into account, let's take a Boston victory tonight. Game 1 was likely the only chance the Pacers had to take a series lead over the Celtics and they let it slip through their hands. The C's are, clearly, the team to beat this postseason and there's no reason to doubt them at TD Garden following Tuesday's comeback performance.

Having said that, we'll take the Pacers on the spread, too. As good as the Celtics are, I'm not thrilled about a 9-point spread after they barely won Game 1. Boston is also 3-6 ATS in its last nine games played in May and 1-4 ATS in its last five encounters with Indiana.

Throw in the fact that the Pacers are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 May contests and it's easy to see why Game 2 may wind up being a close one.

Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 2 Prediction: BOS wins

Best Pacers vs Celtics NBA Bet: IND +9 (-115)

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Best Pacers vs Celtics NBA Game 2 Prop Bet (5/23)

If you're looking for a solid Pacers vs. Celtics Game 2 prop, you should consider taking Tyrese Haliburton to tally over 3.5 threes made (-103).

Haliburton has been one of the Pacers' best perimeter performers throughout the postseason and the latest stretch solidifies that fact. In his last seven games, the ex-Iowa State guard is averaging 4.7 threes made with a 44.0% success rate, finishing with the Over five times during that stretch. He's even finished with exactly six threes made in back-to-back contests.

Having now hit the Over in three of his last five trips to TD Garden, look for Haliburton to be productive from deep again.

Best Pacers vs Celtics Game 2 Prop Bet: Tyrese Haliburton o3.5 Threes Made (-103)

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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)