Teams: Indiana Pacers (0-1) vs. Boston Celtics (1-0)
Date and Time: May 23, 2023 | 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachussets
Moneyline: Pacers (+322) vs Celtics (-399)
Spread: Pacers +9 (-103) vs Celtics -5.5 (-107)
Total (O/U): Pacers (o224.5) vs Celtics (u224.5)
Preview
The Pacers fought hard in the opener, leading 117-114 with 8.5 seconds left but ultimately losing in overtime, 133-128. Key players Tyrese Haliburton (25 points, 10 assists), Pascal Siakam (24 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists), and Myles Turner (23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks) delivered strong performances. However, Haliburton’s critical mistakes, including a costly turnover, and Coach Rick Carlisle’s decision not to call a timeout before a crucial Siakam turnover, proved fatal.
The Pacers have the potential to compete, but Game 1 might have been their best shot to change the series’ dynamic. Tomorrow offers another chance to see how much fight they have left. Despite expectations of an easy win, the Celtics struggled. Luckily, the Pacers’ execution faltered, allowing Boston to seize the comeback opportunity.
Jayson Tatum, despite shooting 2-of-7 in the fourth quarter, scored 10 points in overtime, finishing with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jaylen Brown had 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, including the game-tying three-pointer. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White added 26 and 15 points respectively, with White also dishing out nine assists. The core four combined for 11 steals.
With Game 1 jitters behind them, the Celtics are expected to perform more cohesively in Game 2.
Indiana Pacers projected starting lineup
The Indiana Pacers’ projected starting lineup features Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner.
Boston Celtics projected starting lineup
The projected starting five for the Boston Celtics includes Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford stepping in for the injured Kristaps Porzingis.
Prediction
For the upcoming game, the Celtics are favored to win by 9 points, reflected in the spread of Celtics (-9). Additionally, the total points scored by both teams are expected to exceed 224.5, suggesting a high-scoring match.
