There are just 4 teams left in the race for the NBA Finals. In the East, Game 1 between the Celtics and Pacers comes to you from the TD Garden on Wednesday morning. Can the #6 seed Pacers go all the way or will the #1 seeded Celtics take them down? On Thursday, it’s the Western Conference finals matchup between the #3 seed Timberwolves and #5 seed Mavericks. The T-Wolves rallied to defeat the defending champs Nuggets in Game 7 but can Luka and Irving stop them? Here’s how Game 1 is shaping up in both conferences.<\/p>\n
The Pacers were the top-scoring team in the NBA this season, averaging 123.3 points per game with 50.7% shooting from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. In the postseason, they’re still leading the pack, scoring 114.2 points per game with 50.7% from the field and 38.1% from behind the arc. Seven Pacers players are averaging double digits in the playoffs, with Pascal Siakam leading at 21.1 points per game. Tyrese Haliburton is fourth in playoff assists at 8.1 per game, after leading the NBA in assists during the regular season. When the Pacers get hot offensively, they\u2019re as good as anyone in the NBA. We saw their potential in Game Seven against the Knicks, but facing the Celtics is a bigger challenge.<\/p>\n
Defensively, the Pacers have had a rough season, allowing 120.2 points per game and second-to-last in field goal percentage defence at 49.6%. In the postseason, they\u2019re giving up 110.8 points per game, with opponents shooting 46.7% from the field and 36.8% from three. Pascal Siakam is making a difference in rebounding with 7.5 per game. Their defence doesn\u2019t need to be perfect because their offence is so strong, but it will be crucial in this series against the Celtics.<\/p>\n
The Celtics have been the most well-rounded and best team in the NBA this season. They were second in scoring with 120.6 points per game and second in three-point percentage at 38.8%. In the postseason, they\u2019re averaging 108.1 points per game, shooting 48.0% from the field and 37.7% from three. Five Celtics players are averaging double digits, with Jayson Tatum leading at 24.3 points per game. Tatum\u2019s been a game-changer, also leading in rebounds with 10.4 per game and assists with 5.8 per game.<\/p>\n
The Celtics’ defence has been solid all year, both in the regular season and postseason. They ranked fifth in scoring defence, allowing 109.2 points per game, second in field goal percentage defence at 45.3%, and fourth in three-point percentage defence at 35.2%. In the playoffs, they\u2019re allowing just 96.7 points per game, with opponents shooting 44.9% from the field and 33.8% from three. Their defense needs to step up too, given how well the Pacers are playing on offense.<\/p>\n
In Game 1 between the Celtics and Pacers, I like the Over. The total has gone OVER in 13 of Indiana’s last 18 games, in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games and in 12 of Boston’s last 18 games against Indiana.<\/p>\n
Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Boston are 6-4 in their last 10 at home. Indiana are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games.<\/p>\n