NBA Best Bets Today | Expert Picks for Celtics vs Pacers Game 3 (Saturday, May 25)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Pictured: Jayson Tatum.
After an overtime thriller in Game 1, the Boston Celtics handled the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 with a 16-point win to take a 2-0 series lead. As the series heads back to Indiana for Game 3, all eyes are on the status of Tyrese Haliburton, who left Thursday's game with a left hamstring injury and is questionable for Game 3.
Check out our NBA best bets below, including expert picks and player props for Celtics vs. Pacers Game 3.
NBA Best Bets Today
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Celtics vs. Pacers
By Maltman
As expected coming into this series, the Celtics haven’t really had an answer for Pascal Siakam without Kristaps Porziņģis. With Boston up 2-0 and Tyrese Haliburton likely out, the Pacers' main offensive option is to keep feeding Siakam.
Jayson Tatum has been the primary matchup on him, and he has had no answers. In the second half, they switched Jaylen Brown into him, which worked better, but Siakam still had 28 points in just 31 minutes.
The spread implies this game won’t be that much of a blowout, and with the season on the line, I’m betting Siakam to exceed a line he has gone over the last two games. I'm betting .5u on Siakam over 22.5 points at -108 on FanDuel (would bet to 23.5 and -120).
Pick: Pascal Siakam Over 22.5 Points (-108)
When Boston's starting lineup has been on the court this series, it has outscored Indiana by a massive 16.9 points per 100 possessions.
The Pacers have no answer for Jaylen Brown's slashing, and Jrue Holiday's size advantage over Indiana's guards gives the Celtics the option of quality post-up possessions. On the other end, the Celtics are offering no clear exploitable advantage because of their versatile, switchable defense.
Will Tyrese Haliburton be effective or even on the court? He's questionable with a hamstring injury, which could significantly compromise his play. Overall, Boston demolished teams in the first quarter this season, and I expect the Celtics to impose their will early in Game 3. The talent gap is too big and Indiana's defense is holding it back here.
I would play this line down to -120 before transitioning to Boston 1Q moneyline at -142 odds.
Pick: Boston Celtics 1Q -1.5 (-108)
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The Boston Celtics are sharing the Tyrese Haliburton responsibilities, with Jrue Holiday being 1A in the on-ball efforts. That leaves Derrick White as an off-ball roamer on defense, which means he crashes for rebounds and often brings the ball up. White's rebound prop has already been priced out, as you are now playing juice on an over 4.5 line, but his offense looks are simply easier.
White has proven to be a difficult shot-maker, and I expect him to get volume on better quality attempts. If Haliburton is active, I like looking toward White and other Celtics players for 3PT Stat Leader around +400 or greater. These markets are not up as of this writing because of the Haliburton questionable tag.
Pick: Derrick White Over 2.5 3s (-135)
I played this last game and it hit, though I had another prop in the best bets file that I liked a good deal more (Derrick White over 2.5 threes — also hit).
So I'm going back to Myles Turner today.
I think regardless of Tyrese Haliburton's status — though he has props listed and is questionable as of me writing this — Turner will be needed to stretch the floor against the Celtics' defense.
With Indiana, it's not just pace, it's space. They've shot the sixth-most 3s per game in the playoffs, fourth among teams who advanced past a round. Turner is over 1.5 3s in three straight and six of his last seven. He's averaging 2.5 makes from distance per game in the playoffs.
He's listed at 1.5, though, because the attempts aren't as high as they seem. Over his last seven, he's only attempted more than four 3s twice, but still, he's been strikingly accurate, hitting 62.5% from deep over that stretch.
Pick: Myles Turner Over 1.5 3s (-130)
By Joe Dellera
Tyrese Haliburton re-aggravated his hamstring that has been ailing him since before the All-Star Break. Much like when Jalen Brunson suffered his foot injury, we will target a rebounding under.
In the two games this series, Haliburton recorded three and four rebounds on eight and six rebound chances, respectively. He has been going under this line regardless. Although he has seen a few spikes against Boston, the circumstances were different and it was never alongside Pascal Siakam.
On the season, Haliburton has only averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and has only exceeded 4.5 rebounds in 37% of games. That number is not significantly better during the playoffs, when he is averaging 4.8 rebounds, a number that is buoyed by a 10-rebound game against the Bucks. He has still exceeded this line in just 6-of-15 playoff games and the median outcome is still just four rebounds.
If Haliburton is able to play, I doubt he will expend energy and risk to grab rebounds, rather, he will save any burst for the offense which is where Indiana really needs him. Even if this injury is a bit overblown and he is able to play, this line is high.
I like Haliburton to go under 4.5 rebounds.
Pick: Tyrese Haliburton Under 4.5 Rebounds
By Joe Dellera
Myles Turner simply has not had a ton of block opportunities against the Celtics. Boston allows its opponents the fewest blocks per game and is blocked just 3.5 times per game.
Much of this is because of the style they play and their shot profile. Their offense is perpetual movement looking for the best open shot and they take a high volume of 3s. They don’t generally force bad looks.
Turner recorded two blocks in Game 1, but needed overtime — and honestly, needed what should have been scored as a steal to be counted as a block. Over his last 10 games against the Celtics, he is averaging just 0.7 blocks per game and has only recorded 2+ because of the generous scorekeeper in Game 1.
I’m grabbing Turner to go under 1.5 blocks.
Pick: Myles Turner Under 1.5 Blocks
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