Pacers vs. Celtics NBA expert prediction and odds for Tuesday, Jan. 30 (Boston owns back-to-backs)
The Boston Celtics have been elite on back-to-backs this season. Can they keep that going as favorites on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers?
By Peter Dewey
For the fifth time this season, the Boston Celtics will take on the Indiana Pacers, and the winner of this meeting will take the season series.
Boston won the only meeting at TD Garden by 51 points earlier this season, but this is the first time the team will face the Pacers with Pascal Siakam on the roster.
Tyrese Haliburton’s status (currently questionable with a hamstring injury) could move this game’s spread, but Boston is currently favored by seven points.
The Celtics are on the second night of a back-to-back, erasing a double-digit deficit on Monday night to beat the New Orleans Pelicans at home. Can Boston keep up its success at TD Garden on Tuesday?
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Here are the latest odds and my best bet for this matchup:
Pacers vs. Celtics odds, spread and total
Pacers vs. Celtics how to watch
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 30
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Venue: TD Garden
- How to watch (TV): TNT
- Pacers record: 27-20
- Celtics record: 36-11
Pacers vs. Celtics injury reports
Pacers injury report
- Tyrese Haliburton – questionable
- Kendall Brown – questionable
- Bennedict Mathurin – questionable
- Jalen Smith – questionable
- Myles Turner – questionable
- Isaiah Wong – questionable
- Oscar Tshiebwe – questionable
Celtics injury report
- Not submitted yet
Al Horford usually sits out one leg of a back-to-back. He played on Monday, likely leading to him missing this game.
Pacers vs. Celtics key players to watch
Indiana Pacers
Pascal Siakam: Since being traded to the Pacers, Siakam is averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. He may see a smaller workload if Haliburton returns tonight, but it’ll be an interesting addition to the Pacers’ offense that hasn’t faced Boston with this roster yet.
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum: Celtics star Jayson Tatum looks to be turning things around after a few down games earlier this month. Over his last four contests, Tatum is averaging 28.5 points per game, scoring at least 21 in every contest. The Celtics forward had a 38-point showing in his last matchup with Indiana.
Pacers vs. Celtics prediction and pick
There is obviously some concern for taking Boston at this number if Haliburton is ruled in, but the Celtics have been elite at home, losing just two games at the TD Garden all season.
Boston also has the second best record in the NBA against the spread on the second night of a back-to-back this season (only Portland is better).
The Pacers have won three in a row, but they are just 5-5 straight up in their last 10 games. Indiana’s defense is a massive concern (26th in defensive rating this season) against a Boston team that is No. 1 in the league in net rating.
Boston is 13-10 ATS as a home favorite, winning those games by an average margin of 13 points per game.
The Celtics are worth a bet at this price on Tuesday.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.