Celtics Favored to Dominate Injured Pacers in Monday Showdown
Alright, so here’s the scene for Monday night’s Eastern Conference clash between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers. Things are looking pretty lopsided heading into this game. The Celtics, despite being without star forward Jayson Tatum and with Jaylen Brown listed as questionable, are still favored at home. Boston has been strong lately—they managed to beat the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, even on the second night of a back-to-back and without Brown in the lineup.
On the flip side, the Pacers are struggling mightily this season. They’re sitting at just 6-22, with injuries completely derailing their campaign. Key players like Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, and Obi Toppin are all out for this game, and a few others are questionable. With this kind of injury list, it’s no surprise that Indiana has lost four straight and is looking like a team headed for a lottery pick.
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Now, when we look at the numbers, the disparity is clear. Boston is third in the league in offensive rating, while Indiana is dead last. On the road, the Pacers have struggled even more—they’ve gone just 5-8 against the spread, averaging a negative 13.8 points in those matchups. Meanwhile, the Celtics have been solid at home, winning seven of their last ten games and covering the spread eight out of fourteen times.
A lot of attention is on Jaylen Brown if he plays. He’s been on a hot streak this month, scoring 30 or more points in every game he’s played in December, averaging 32.7 points per game, and shooting over 53 percent from the field. He’s also hitting threes at over 43 percent and drawing nearly eight free throws a night. If Brown suits up, he’s expected to carry the scoring load, and with Indiana missing key defenders like Nesmith, he could easily surpass his point total prop of 29.5.
All signs point to Boston controlling this matchup. The Pacers are struggling offensively, are heavily shorthanded, and have been weak on the road. The Celtics, even without Tatum and possibly without Brown, are still a top team in the Eastern Conference and should be able to handle Indiana comfortably at home. Expect Boston to win convincingly and cover the spread, making this one a relatively easy call for fans and bettors alike.
So, if you’re watching Monday night, the Celtics are the team to keep your eyes on. Indiana might put up a fight here and there, but with all their injuries and Boston’s firepower, the game is likely to be decided early and remain in Boston’s hands through the final buzzer.
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