- The Indiana Pacers blew out the Boston Celtics 128-107 on Sunday night as +9 point betting underdogs.
- Indiana made 17 three-pointers and had no issues against a Boston defense that is the best in the NBA since January 1st.
- Seven Pacers players scored in double-digits led by Oshae Brisseett who scored 27 on six three-pointers made.
The Boston Celtics were the hottest team in the league coming from the All-Star Break. With just two losses in their last 15 outings, Boston had climbed back in the Eastern Conference team standings to take solo 6th place and an outright playoff spot if the postseason began today.
Boston had also been a terror on the road, dominating their opponents while playing away from home in their previous seven such contests. Enter the Pacers who were 20-41 SU entering Sunday’s game in Indiana. What was supposed to be a routine win, turned out to be a shocking upset.
Pacers Had No Issues With Celtics’ Smothering Defense
The Celtics have played smothering defense, especially lately…but the Pacers have had no issue with it so far.
At the half:
Pacers 66
Celtics 55It’s the most 1H points the Celtics have allowed since December 17th
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) February 27, 2022
The Celtics entered the game having won 13 out of their last 15 games while seeing their championship odds improve from +4000 to +2000 at the best NBA sportsbooks over the last couple of weeks. Boston had won seven consecutive games on the road and had beaten Indiana five straight times overall and three consecutive times on the road.
The Pacers meanwhile had won just once in their last nine games and had beaten an Eastern Conference team one time since December 17th. They ranked 15th in the league in scoring and were expected to struggle against a Celtics team that led the league in defense and points allowed since December 1st.
But the Pacers put up 66 in the first half and 62 in the second half. Indiana’s 128 points were the most points the Celtics have conceded this season since giving up 137 points to the Utah Jazz last December 4th and the third-most points they have allowed all season long. The result? The Celtics suffered their third-worst loss of the season.
Pacers Closed as 9 Point Underdogs
The Pacers closed as 9 point underdogs and beat the Celtics by 21. ?
IND ML +330 ✅ pic.twitter.com/DrjIREU6zI
— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) February 28, 2022
Indiana closed as a 9-point spread and +3300 Moneyline underdogs to Boston but the Pacers waxed hot from downtown, hitting 17 total three-pointers as they decimated one of the best defenses in the league by a whopping 21 points at 128-107.
Seven Indiana players scored in double digits led by Oshae Brissett who scored 27 points with six three-pointers made and Buddy Hield who scored 11 of his 21 total points in the final 8 minutes of the game. Malcolm Brogdon also had a big game with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists while Isaiah Jackson added 11. Jalen Smith and Chris Duarte also scored 12 and 11 points respectively, off the bench.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton continues to impress in his stint with the Pacers with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 1 blocked shot while shooting 8-12 from the field and 4-6 from behind the three-point area. Since getting traded to Indiana, Haliburton has averaged 20 points and 11 assists per game with shooting splits of 53/48/80%.
