Pacers vs Celtics game preview

The Indiana Pacers, entering the fray with their playoff positioning at sixth in the Eastern Conference, showed impressive resilience throughout the regular season with a record of 47-35. As they face Boston for Game 2, all eyes rest on Tyrese Haliburton, whose stellar performance as point guard has been crucial. Haliburton not only leads the team with an average of 20.1 points per game but also with 10.9 assists, showcasing his dual-threat capability on the court. However, with Myles Turner bringing in an average of 6.9 rebounds per game, the team’s ability to enhance their performance under the rim against a robust Celtics squad could determine their success in leveraging the series. The Pacers’ overall strategy must hinge on exploiting their agility and coordinating tightly around Haliburton’s playmaking prowess if they aim to even the score in Game 2.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics, who hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference with an impressive 64-18 record, look to capitalize on their home-court advantage and take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Jayson Tatum has been instrumental in their success, leading the Celtics both in points and rebounds, averaging 26.9 and 8.1 respectively. Alongside Tatum, Derrick White's role as a facilitator cannot be overlooked as he leads the team with an average of 5.2 assists per game. The Celtics’ strategy should revolve around leveraging their defensive strengths and the scoring efficiency of Tatum, ensuring they dictate the pace of the game. If Boston maintains its defensive tenacity and continues to exploit the offensive contributions from their key players, they could significantly challenge the Pacers' attempts to level the series in Game 2.

How to Watch the Pacers vs Celtics

The Pacers vs. Celtics game will be televised on ESPN and is scheduled for Thu 8:00 PM.

Pacers vs Celtics predictions

Here's my take on the upcoming matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics. First, let's talk about the Pacers. I think Tyrese Haliburton is going to have a huge game, putting up around 22 points and 11 assists. He's been playing some of the best basketball of his career lately, and I think he'll be able to exploit the Celtics' defensive weaknesses. I also expect Myles Turner to have a big impact on the glass, grabbing around 10 rebounds. If the Pacers can get those kinds of performances from their leaders, they'll be in this game until the end.

But, let's be real, the Celtics are the team to beat in the East, and I think they'll come out on top in this one. Jayson Tatum is a superstar, plain and simple. I predict he'll drop 28 points and grab 9 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown will chip in with 22 points of his own. The Celtics' bench is also stacked, with guys like Derrick White and Sam Hauser providing instant offense off the bench. I think Al Horford will have a big game defensively, protecting the paint and altering shots all night long.

In the end, I think the Celtics' firepower will be too much for the Pacers. I'm predicting a 115-105 Boston win, with the Celtics pulling away in the fourth quarter. The Pacers will hang around, but ultimately, the Celtics' superior talent and depth will win out. Look for the Celtics to take a 2-0 lead in the series, setting themselves up for a potential sweep.

Boston Celtics injuries

• Xavier Tillman (F): Day-To-Day
• Kristaps Porzingis (C): Out

Indiana Pacers injuries

• Bennedict Mathurin (SG): Out