Brad Stevens, Celtics Continue Their Busy Week As Favorites Vs. Pacers
The Boston Celtics will aim for their fifth straight-up win in their last seven regular-season home contests when they host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday as early 2.5-point betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Celtics improved to 2-3 SU on the year with a 118-98 win over the Washington Wizards last Thursday night, picking up the against-the-spread victory as slim 1.5-point home chalk and ending a three-game SU and ATS losing streak.
But following four days rest, Wednesday night’s Pacers vs. Celtics betting matchup at TD Garden will be Boston’s second game in as many nights, following the club’s visit to Milwaukee on Tuesday, when it battled the Bucks as slim two-point chalk.
The Celtics turned in their strongest performance of the season against the Wizards last week, taking a 72-49 lead into halftime on the strength of 61 percent shooting. The club also demonstrated defensive responsibility, forcing 24 turnovers while holding the Wizards to just 40.9 percent from the floor en route to just their fourth win by 20 or more points in two years, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
The Pacers are looking to bounce back from last year’s disappointing 38-win campaign, which they endured without All-Star forward Paul George, who was limited to just six appearances because of injury, missing the postseason for the first time in four years.
Indiana cracked .500 on Monday night with a 97-84 win over the Orlando Magic, improving to 4-4 SU while notching its fifth consecutive ATS victory, but is just 3-6 SU in its last nine against the Celtics, 5-4 ATS.
Following Wednesday’s contest, the Celtics welcome the Atlanta Hawks to town Friday, followed by a visit to Oklahoma City to battle the Thunder on Sunday.
The Hawks have jumped from 50/1 to 33/1 on the odds to win the NBA championship since opening with seven wins in their first nine contests, while the Thunder own a middling record to start the season but maintain strong 9/1 title odds.
The Celtics’ mediocre start has done little for their NBA futures, which continue to languish at a distant 100/1. The Golden State Warriors have emerged as 2/1 favorites to repeat as champs after exploding to an 8-0 start this season.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who opened the season atop the NBA championship odds, closely trail at 3/1, followed by the San Antonio Spurs at 21/8, and the Los Angeles Clippers, who join the Thunder at 9/1.
Thumbnail photo via Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports Images
