The Indiana Pacers, who were one of the worst teams in the NBA for weeks heading into the All-Star break, hosted the Boston Celtics on Thursday. The Pacers were looking to turn things around following the break. However, the Celtics, who are the betting favorite to win the NBA title (bet365), won the game in a contest that was competitive.
In a game that went to overtime, the Celtics put up a single-digit spread, winning by 4 points. The final score in the contest was Boston 142, and Indiana 138 (OT) as the Pacers dropped one that they really needed.
Celtics @ Pacers Thursday: Myles Turner scores 40
With the loss, the Pacers are now 26-35 overall on the season. They had the top scorer in the game, their center Myles Turner. He had a very impressive 40 points in the contest to go with 10 rebounds for a double-double. However, the Pacers didn't quite have the bench in this game as Boston's bench thoroughly outplayed Indiana's.
As per the bullet points below, the Pacers are playing just .150 basketball in their last 20 games. It's this stretch of horrible form that has made them underdogs to make the playoffs. They have otherwise been decent this season.
Indiana Pacers: Recent Form Alert
- Indiana Pacers were 23-18 (January 10th, 2023)
- Following Thursday's game, they are 26-35
The Celtics improved to 43-17 with the 4-point victory. Jayson Tatum, the All-Star game's MVP, and Jaylen Brown both had double-doubles for points and rebounds. Brown's level of play is a great development for Boston backers as he was injured ahead of the break. Staying healthy is a big part of staying competitive at this time of the season. Bettors should be watching Boston's updates for the next day as these overtime games are more likely than average to cause injuries due to the extra playing time and competitiveness.
Further reading: NBA Power Rankings
