Pacers Celtics series preview prediction Tyrese Haliburton

Celtics favored to beat Pacers in Eastern Conference Finals, but not as big as last round. Porzingis injury a factor.

The Boston Celtics are heavily favored in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, although not as much as in the previous round. DraftKings has priced the Celtics at -900 to advance past the Pacers and make it to the NBA Finals, a significant decrease from the -3000 odds they had against the Cavaliers in Round Two.

A major factor in this matchup is the absence of star forward Kristaps Porzingis, who has been ruled out for the first two games against the Pacers. It remains uncertain when he will be available beyond that. The Pacers, known for their defensive struggles, allowed the 27th most points per game in the NBA, making their advancement to this stage surprising.

The Celtics won the season series 3-2, with one loss occurring without Jayson Tatum. Indiana's main scorers, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, face tough defensive matchups against the Celtics. While the Pacers may have moments of exceptional shooting, the Celtics' strong perimeter defense should limit their scoring opportunities.

In terms of betting, the Celtics -1.5 at -340 on FanDuel seems like a solid choice, as the odds are worth it for the series not to go to seven games. Holiday leads the Celtics in 3-point percentage, making him a viable option for 3-point shooting bets. Haliburton is favored in the market, but the Celtics' defensive capabilities may hinder his performance.

For a riskier bet, consider Holiday at 100/1 on DraftKings, as his odds are significantly higher than others on the market. Overall, the Celtics are expected to come out on top in this series, with a prediction of Celtics in six games or fewer.