Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers: Odds, Picks & Predictions

BET OF THE DAY: (**2u) Boston Celtics -2 @ - 110**

Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers, 7:00 PM:

•  Boston has won seven of the last eight meetings with Indiana (three of which on the road).
•  The Celtics have the second-best ATS in the NBA at (38-23-2). (Stats courtesy of Statschecker).

The reason we’re backing the Celtics

Boston (42-21) dropped a second straight game, and have lost four of the last five, after falling short at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-104.

The Celtics couldn’t find production outside the starting rotation, all five of which scored in double figures.

Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 24 points behind four made three-pointers and Marcus Smart added a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Indiana (39-25) has won eight of the last 10 games, including a 112-109 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Domantas Sabonis totaled his 50th double-double of the season which broke the Pacers’ franchise all-time regular-season record.

Sabonis had a team-high 20 points, 17 rebounds and six assists. Myles Turner added a double-double of his own with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Indiana battled back and won the first matchup between these teams at home earlier this season 122-117, but that was large-in-part due to the Pacers outscoring Boston by 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Boston may be slumping, and are on the road, but I like the Celtics to bounce back in a big way and at the least cover the spread.

(1u) Dallas Mavericks -3.5 @ -110

Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs, 8:00 PM:

•  The Mavericks have won each of the last three meetings with the Spurs (all three were this season).
•  Dallas ranks sixth best ATS this season at (34-28-6) and San Antonio has the second worst ATS record in the league at (24-37-1).

The reason we’re backing the Mavericks

Dallas (39-26) snapped a two-game winning streak during a back-and-forth battle at home with the Pacers.

Luka Doncic nearly put together a triple-double with a game-high 36 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on 13-of-26 shooting.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was lights out from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers for 30 points.

San Antonio (26-36) were out-muscled and out-rebounded on the road in Cleveland as they lost in overtime to the Cavaliers 132-129.

The Spurs were out rebounded 60 to 40, yet managed to have six players score in double figures.

Damar DeRozan led the way with 25 points and eight rebounds while Rudy Gay and Bryn Forbes each contributed 19 points.

Each of the three meetings between these teams this season have been decided by seven points or less, but all of which were won by the Mavericks.

After an ugly defeat against Cleveland, it’s hard for me to have confidence in the Spurs.

I’m rolling with Dallas to sweep the season series and cover the spread.

(1u) Houston Rockets -12.5 @ -110

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets, 9:00 PM:

•  Houston has won each of the last four meetings with Minnesota.
•  The Timberwolves have the worst ATS record in the league at (22-39-2).

The reason we’re backing the Rockets

Minnesota (19-44) lost a second straight game, and have dropped seven of the last 10 games, after falling at home to the New Orleans Pelicans 120-107.

The Timberwolves had seven players score in double figures but struggled from beyond the arc - especially D’Angelo Russell who was 0-of-7 from three-point range for 19 points.

Houston (39-24) dropped a fourth consecutive game after suffering an ugly loss at home to the Orlando Magic 126-106.

The Rockets’ struggles from three-point range continued as they shot 28 percent from beyond the arc.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 12 turnovers but were the lone signs of life on offense.

Westbrook had a team-high 24 points with eight rebounds and Harden was right behind with 23 points.

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Rockets over the last four games, but there is one major positive heading into Tuesday night - Minnesota has been much worse.

The Timberwolves have the worst ATS record in the NBA and have lost to the Rockets all three times this season (two of which were by 20 or more points).

If Houston doesn’t defeat Minnesota, they’ve officially hit rock bottom.

However, I don’t anticipate that happening and I’m taking the Rockets to cover.