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Indiana (6-22) at Boston (17-11)
- When: Dec 22 2025, 7:30 PM
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA, USA
- TV: FDSIN
Indiana vs Boston Preview & Prediction
Spread: Boston -10.0
Moneyline: Boston (-480)
Total: 225.0
Boston Celtics Breakdown
Boston enters Monday night doing what Boston does best lately: suffocating opponents and casually draining threes like it is a warmup drill. The Celtics are favored by ten points, which honestly feels polite given how locked in they have been defensively. Opponents struggle to score, struggle to breathe, and eventually start launching shots just to feel something.
Boston allows just over 110 points per game, which in today’s NBA basically qualifies as elite prison yard defense. Teams shoot poorly, possessions feel rushed, and suddenly the shot clock becomes everyone’s enemy. The Celtics do not even need their stars to dominate every night. Their backcourt has been lighting teams up like it is a friendly competition to see who can score thirty first.
Derrick White is playing with full confidence and absolutely zero conscience. Payton Pritchard recently entered flamethrower mode, scoring in bursts that feel unfair. Even the bench has been productive, energetic, and annoying for opponents trying to mount comebacks.
Boston has won seven of its last nine games and looks comfortable running teams out of the building. This is one of those spots where the Celtics dictate everything. Pace, spacing, and vibes all lean green.
Indiana Pacers Breakdown
Indiana arrives in Boston looking for answers and possibly directions. The Pacers are on a four game losing streak and are currently struggling to score at levels that make modern NBA fans uncomfortable. They rank near the bottom of the league in shooting efficiency, which is a fancy way of saying the ball refuses to go in.
Things spiraled early in their last game, where they surrendered forty four first quarter points and spent the rest of the night chasing shadows. Playing catch up against Boston is a nightmare scenario. The Celtics do not panic, do not slow down, and definitely do not give away easy buckets.
Indiana can move the ball and show flashes, but consistency has been missing. Their defense has been leaking points early, and once momentum shifts, things tend to snowball quickly. This is not the place you want to fix that.
The Pacers do have extra motivation with a milestone looming for their coach, but motivation does not fix shooting percentages or close out shooters.
Betting Outlook and Final Prediction
This sets up as a game where Indiana struggles to keep pace while Boston scores comfortably without needing to hit a ridiculous gear. Expect Boston to control the game early, stretch the lead by halftime, and manage the fourth quarter without stress. Indiana may have moments, but sustained scoring against this defense feels unlikely.
Final Score: Celtics 118, Pacers 104
Lean: Boston -10.0
Total: Under 225.0
- NBA Basketball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
