If Game 1 is any indication of what this series will be like, the Eastern Conference finals could be a treat to watch. It’s no surprise to see the two highest-scoring teams in the league play at a fast tempo, but it was a surprise to see the game be so competitive.
The Boston Celtics prevailed in overtime but were fortunate to get there in the first place. Can the Indiana Pacers bounce back, or will Boston take a 2-0 lead on the road? Even after the close series opener, Boston remains a big favorite for Game 2.
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Here’s a look at the storylines, odds and staff picks for Thursday’s Game 2 in Boston.
All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.
No. 6 Indiana Pacers at No. 1 Boston Celtics
How to watch: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Celtics lead series 1-0
Series odds: Celtics -2000, Pacers +1000
Game 1 was a case of could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, but didn’t for Indiana. The Pacers came back from 13 points down in the third quarter to lead by five with less than two minutes left. The real killer was Indiana having a three-point lead and the ball with 10 seconds left. A turnover and a circus shot by Jaylen Brown led to overtime, where Boston won.
There are two ways to look at Game 1 for Indiana. It is a missed opportunity for an underdog team that may not have that many opportunities over a seven-game series. It also is a sign that the Pacers can beat Boston and do so on the road.
The Celtics have followed the same pattern in the first two rounds. Win Game 1 at home by 20 or more points, lose Game 2 at home by double digits, then win the next three games to advance. That feels too specific to be an actionable trend, but Boston will be thinking about not letting it happen a third time.
Part of Indiana’s success was the result of how quickly the Pacers played. Regulation featured 234 points, going well over the already high point total listed by sportsbooks, and that’s with the fourth quarter only having 47 points between the two teams. It didn’t take hot shooting to get there, either. The Pacers shot 53.5 percent from the field but were a good but not outrageous 13-35 (37.1 percent) from 3-point range.
Turnovers are what did Indiana in, even beyond the crucial one late in the fourth quarter. The Pacers had 22. This from a team that averaged 12.3 turnovers per game in the regular season and against a Boston team that forced the fewest turnovers in the league. This is another stat that can go both ways: Game 1 was a missed opportunity that may not come again, or it was a sign that the Pacers can play better than they did on Tuesday — and yet they still almost won the game.
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Boston hasn’t given teams a ton of opportunities this postseason. Seven of Boston’s nine wins this postseason have been by 13 or more points. Indiana is also the first playoff opponent that is bringing a healthy starting lineup against the Celtics.
Expert picks for Pacers at Celtics
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(Photo of Derrick White and Tyrese Haliburton: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
