The NBA playoffs are always wild, wacky and filled with knife-thick drama. With players putting everything on the line in an attempt to bask in championship glory, naturally, the pressure-packed games are tremendously fun to wager on. As a result, the sportsbooks offer many creative ways to enhance the action. What is Brad’s SGP play in Pacers-Celtics Game 2? Check out his lean below.
The pick — SGP: Pacers 105+ team points, Pacers +11.5 alt spread (+100, BetMGM)
- BetMGM offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back
Did you honestly believe the Celtics would just roll through Indiana unchallenged, Affleck? Head to the nearest Dunkin,’ crush a butter pecan iced coffee (or three) and wake the heck up.
Put some damn respect on the Pacers name.
The No. 6 seed belongs in the Eastern Conference finals. Yes, Indiana made costly blunders in Game 1, but if that Jaylen Brown clutch triple doesn’t fall with only ticks remaining, frustrating four-letter words would still be spewing in the streets of Beantown.
In defeat, Rick Carlisle’s team proved its mettle. A 10.5-point underdog at tip, Indy absorbed body blows and landed face-displacing punches in retaliation.
If not for a massive 30-10 advantage in free throws attempted for the home team and 21 costly turnovers, Tyrese Haliburton and cohorts likely emerge victorious. Overall, the Pacers outshot (53.5 FG% to 47.5 FG%), out-chucked (37.1 3PT% to 33.3 3PT%) and out-rebounded (44 to 43) the heavily favored C’s. Indiana’s bench also outscored Boston’s 30-13.
Stubborn mules are likely convinced the about-face in Game 1 will propel the Celtics to a Game 2 blowout win. Don’t buy that nonsense.
Indiana — No. 1 in offensive rating (121.2) in the playoffs — is a well-oiled scoring machine. Boston’s defense is good, but it’s not lock-down exceptional, as evidenced by its 1.071 points per possession allowed and No. 7 standing in opponent field-goal percentage (45.8%).
The Pacers’ brisk-paced nature and overall efficiency is why they’ve scored 105 points or more in 11 of 14 postseason games. Expect more of the same in what should be another tight affair. Keep in mind, the Fightin’ Rik Smits have covered the standard line in four of their last five playoff contests.
Oh, and you were a questionable Batman, Affleck.
NBA postseason record: 10-22, -10.73 units