Boston Celtics opened the Eastern Conference Finals with a victory over Indiana Pacers and the early signs suggest this could be an enthralling series.
The Celtics brushed both Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers aside in the opening games of their two previous series, ultimately winning in five games on each occasion.
The Pacers put up a fantastic fight as they dragged Boston into overtime before losing by five points – and it looks as if the sixth seeds could be the Celtics’ biggest post-season test to date.
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- Indiana Pacers Money Line @ Boston Celtics at 11/4
- Tyrese Haliburton over 8.5 assists @ Boston Celtics at 9/10
- Jrue Holiday over 13.5 points vs Indiana Pacers at 17/20
Pacers worth a punt in the Money Line
Boston are clearly the more likely winners here, but Indiana proved this week they can challenge Joe Mazzulla’s men and at the prices available they are worth the risk in the Money Line.
Boston have only lost twice in the Playoffs and both of those defeats came at TD Garden – and they were also both Game 2 meetings.
Indiana know they have to win at least once in New England if they are to progress to the Finals Series and they came agonisingly close in the first meeting, fighting back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to lead in the fourth. Indeed, it took a game-tying three-pointer from Jaylen Brown to force the game into overtime.
The Pacers should take plenty of confidence from their performance despite the defeat and at 11/4 in the Money Line they look backable underdogs, while the 19/20 on offer for Indiana to win with a +8.5 handicap in the Point Spread is the option for the more cautious punter.
Tyrese the creator can terrorise Celtics
Tyrese Haliburton recorded a 25-point double-double with ten assists for Indiana on Tuesday in Game 1 and once again he will be key to his team’s chances in the second game of this best-of-seven match-up.
Haliburton finished as the assist leader in the regular season with an average of 10.9 per-game. His output has dipped a little in the post season as he is averaging 8.2 after 14 games, but he should be able to finish with at least nine dimes on Thursday night.
The 24-year-old guard has finished with at least nine assists in three of his last six games and he has 46 in total in five meetings with Boston this season after his 10 on Tuesday, an average of 9.2 per-game.
Jrue an issue for Pacers
Jrue Holiday finished up with 28 points in Game 1, behind only Celtics team-mate Jayson Tatum, and he should be able to score at least half that amount when the two teams meet again.
Holiday averaged 12.5 points-per-game in the regular season, his lowest total since his rookie season back in 2009-10, but has still been a key man for Boston – and he looks to have found a way to hurt Indiana.
The point guard has now scored 66 points across his last three games against the Pacers and has weighed in with at least 14 points in four of his last six games, so he should be able to go over 13.5 in Game 2.
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