Celtics vs. Pacers Game 1 prediction, how to watch, TV channel, odds - May 21

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics will face the Indiana Pacers. Tuesday's matchup between the Celtics and the Pacers sees the Celtics as a double-digit favorite by 10.5 points. The over/under is 222 points for the game.

Here is everything you need to know to know about the Celtics-Pacers game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information.

Celtics vs. Pacers Game Information, TV Channel & Odds

• When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
• Where: TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
• TV: ESPN and ESPN2

Celtics vs. Pacers Prediction

ATS Pick: Celtics (- 10.5)
O/U Pick: Over (222)
Score Prediction: Celtics 123 - Pacers 111

Celtics vs. Pacers Betting Insights

• The Celtics and their opponent have combined to score over 222 points, the current matchup's over/under, in 57 of 82 games this season.
• This season, 71 of the Pacers' 82 total matchups have gone over 222 total points scored.
• Between them, these two teams average 21.9 more points per game (243.9) than this matchup's total (222).
• Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 229.4 points per game, 7.4 more than the over/under in this game.
• Boston has come away with 62 wins in the 78 contests it has been listed as the favorite this season.
• Indiana has come away with 21 wins in the 39 contests it has been listed as the underdog this season.
• Boston has come out on top in three of its last five head-to-head matchups against Indiana.
• The Pacers have an advantage against the spread (3-2) when squaring off against the Celtics.

Celtics Recent Trends

• The Celtics have a 6-4 record against the spread while going 8-2 overall in their past 10 contests.
• Boston's average total over the last 10 games is 14.6 points fewer than the 222 total listed for this matchup.
• The Celtics are 42-36-4 against the spread this season.
• Boston has been favored by 10.5 points or more 30 times this season and are 17-13 ATS in those matchups.
• Celtics games this year have gone over the total in 43 out of 82 opportunities (52.4%).
• The Celtics put up just 0.4 more points per game (120.6) than the Pacers give up (120.2).
• Boston is 28-11-1 against the spread and 36-4 overall when scoring more than 120.2 points.
• The Celtics make 48.7% of their shots from the field this season, which is 0.9 percentage points lower than the Pacers have allowed to their opponents (49.6%).
• The Celtics have a better record against the spread at home (23-17-1) than they do in road games (19-19-3).
• Boston has gone over the total more often at home, hitting the over in 22 of 41 home matchups (53.7%). In away games, it has hit the over in 21 of 41 games (51.2%).
• When playing at home, the Celtics have won more often as a moneyline favorite, producing a record of 37-4 (.902). When playing on the road, they are 25-12 (.676) as a moneyline favorite.

Celtics Recent Stats

Celtics Leaders

• Jayson Tatum averages 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Defensively, he averages 1 steal and 0.6 blocks.
• Jaylen Brown puts up 23 points, 5.5 boards and 3.6 assists per contest. Defensively, he averages 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks.
• Derrick White posts 15.2 points, 4.2 boards and 5.2 assists per contest. At the other end, he averages 1 steal and 1.2 blocks.
• Jrue Holiday averages 12.5 points, 4.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds.
• Payton Pritchard posts 9.6 points, 3.2 boards and 3.4 assists per contest. Defensively he averages 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks.

Celtics Player Props

Pacers Recent Trends

• The Pacers are 6-4 against the spread and 6-4 overall over their past 10 contests.
• Indiana and its opponents have combined to score an average of 217.2 combined points over its last 10 games, 4.8 less than the 222 over/under in this matchup.
• Against the spread, the Pacers are 44-37-1 this season.
• Indiana has covered the spread once this season when underdogs by 10.5 points or more (in three chances).
• Pacers games this season have gone over the total in 43 of 82 opportunities (52.4%).
• The Pacers put up an average of 123.3 points per game, 14.1 more points than the 109.2 the Celtics allow to opponents.
• When it scores more than 109.2 points, Indiana is 42-24 against the spread and 46-20 overall.
• The Pacers have shot at a 50.7% rate from the field this season, 5.4 percentage points above the 45.3% shooting opponents of the Celtics have averaged.
• The Pacers' winning percentage against the spread, both home and away, is .537. They are 22-18-1 ATS on their home court and 22-19-0 on the road.
• In terms of the over/under, Indiana's games have finished over more frequently at home (25 of 41, 61%) than away (18 of 41, 43.9%).
• When moneyline favorites, the Pacers have won a higher percentage of games at home (18-11) than on the road (8-6).

Pacers Recent Stats

Pacers Leaders

• Pascal Siakam is averaging 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He's also draining 53.6% of his shots from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc, with 1.1 triples per game.
• On a per-game basis, Tyrese Haliburton gives the Pacers 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists. He also averages 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocked shots.
• Myles Turner gives the Pacers 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest while averaging 0.5 steals and 1.9 blocked shots (ninth in league).
• T.J. McConnell gets the Pacers 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per contest while averaging 1 steal and 0.1 blocked shots.
• Aaron Nesmith gives the Pacers 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest while putting up 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocked shots.

Pacers Player Props

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.