The Indiana Pacers (10-34) head to Boston to face the Celtics (26-16) in an Eastern Conference showdown on Wednesday night at TD Garden in Boston. This game pits a struggling Pacers club ravaged by injuries against a deep Celtics roster fighting for playoff seeding. Boston is a heavy favorite at home, but they have had their share of struggles with the Pacers earlier in the year. Before tip-off from TD Garden, continue reading to find my Pacers vs Celtics prediction right here.
Our Pacers vs Celtics Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics
- Date & Time: January 21, 2026, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- The Celtics enter as double-digit favorites with home court advantage firmly in their favor and a significantly better record in the Eastern Conference. Boston has been dealing with a short injury list but remains dangerous, with All-Star Jaylen Brown probable after a 32-point, 11-rebound performance in his latest outing.
- Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but Boston’s supporting cast of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta have stepped up among others.
- The Pacers are severely undermanned. Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with an Achilles injury, Obi Toppin is sidelined, and Bennedict Mathurin is also out with a thumb issue, leaving Indiana to lean on Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard for production.
- Indiana’s offense has struggled, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring and rebounding while giving up plenty of points defensively. Still, the Pacers have been competitive against the Celtics for the most part this season and will try to push Boston to its limits again on Boston’s home floor.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Past meetings
- The teams have split their season series thus far, with Boston leading 2-1.
- Indiana’s lone win was a 98-96 victory, but that contest came when Boston was missing key contributors.
- In their lone meeting in Boston this season, the Celtics came back from a double-digit deficit to win by eight points.
ATS and O/U records
- Indiana is 22-22 against the spread overall this season and has a strong January ATS record.
- Boston is 24-18 ATS this season.
- Total trends favor the under in Indiana’s games, as they enter this game 28-16 to the under.
- The under is 24-18 in Celtics games so far this year.
Home/road splits
- Celtics are significantly better at home, with a 12-7 record.
- Pacers are 2-18 away and have struggled away from their home court.
Pacers vs Celtics Model Projection
Final Thoughts
