The Boston Celtics have gotten out to a commanding lead going up 2-0 in the series with the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They are coming off a 126-110 beatdown in Game 2 and will now be heading out on the road to Indiana to go up 3-0 in the series in this Saturday's matchup.

With that said, we take a look at this Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 matchup to make a Celtics-Pacers prediction and pick.

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics (74-20)?are doing exactly what is expected of them and that is giving it to the Indiana Pacers. The Celtics had somewhat of a scare in Game 1 with just a 5-point victory but in Game 2 the Celtics took it to the Pacers with a 16-point victory.

It was Jaylen Brown who put the team on his back in Game 2 where he scored 40 points in 36 minutes on the court.

However, he did have some help from,

• Jayson Tatum (23 points)
• Derrick White (23 points)
• Jrue Holiday (15 points)
• Payton Pritchard chipping in (12 points)

While Brown led the game it was a collective win from the Celtics as they dominated on both ends of the court.

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Also, the Celtics defense bottled up this Pacers team throughout the entire game. The Celtics got out to a 6-point lead at halftime and never let up in the second half. This Boston Celtics team is playing at an exceptionally high level right now and is looking like legitimate title champions.

Now, with the Celtics going into Game 3 on the road in Indiana they are going to have to bring that same tenacity with them into Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight.

It will be up to this Celtics team spearheaded by the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to put the team on their back as they always do while spacing the floor and finding the open man for the open three to down this Indiana Pacers team to essentially put the nail in the coffin and take a 3-0 series lead putting the Pacers on the brink of elimination.

Indiana Pacers (55-43)?have all the pressure on them coming into this Game 3 matchup on their home court. They came out swinging in the first half of Game 2 keeping the game within 6 points at halftime but they fell apart in that second half getting outscored by 10 points leading to a 16-point loss.

While the Pacers were efficient from the floor shooting 52% while shooting 38% from 3-point range (11-29) they couldn't stop Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics at any point in Game 2. The Celtics were lighting it up from 3-point range where they knocked down 15 of them and they also allowed the Celtics to get to the line 20 times where they converted 17 free throws.

Pascal Siakam attempted to pull a Jaylen Brown by putting the team on his back with 28 points but the rest of the Indiana Pacers didn't give him as much support as Brown got.

Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner the next two best players on the team aside from Siakam were nowhere to be found combining for just 18 points. Meanwhile, Andrew Nembhard stepped up and put up 16 points in his effort to help his team make a run that never happened.

If the Pacers intend on making a run and taking it to the Celtics in Game 3 they are going to have to do better as a collective unit. Haliburton and Turner must get out of their funk and get back to playing like we expect them to play at a high level.

If the Pacers can get those three going with some help from role players like,

• Nembhard
• Aaron Nesmith
• Obi Toppin

they can potentially steal Game 3 at home and take a bit of pressure off of themselves heading into Game 4.

BOSTON CELTICS VS. INDIANA PACERS FANDUEL ODDS FOR MAY 25TH

MONEY LINE

• BOSTON CELTICS: -290
• INDIANA PACERS: +235

SPREAD

• BOSTON CELTICS: -7 (-110)
• INDIANA PACERS: +7 (-110)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER 222.5 (-110)
• UNDER 222.5 (-110)

BEST ODDS FOR BOSTON CELTICS VS. INDIANA PACERS

• The Boston Celtics are -7-point favorites against the Indiana Pacers. FanDuel currently has the best odds at -7 (-108)
• The Indiana Pacers are the underdogs by 75 points to cover the spread. BetMGM currently has the best odds at +7.5 (-115)

• FanDuel currently has the best odds for the total, which is set at 222.5 (-110) for the over, and (-110) for the under

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BOSTON CELTICS VS. INDIANA PACERS INJURY REPORT

BOSTON CELTICS INJURY REPORT

• LUKE KORNET - DOUB SAT - WRIST
• XAVIER TILLMAN - QUES SAT - PERSONAL
• KRISTAPS PORZINGIS - OUT - CALF

INDIANA PACERS INJURY REPORT INJURY REPORT

• TYRESE HALIBURTON - QUES SAT - ANKLE
• BENNEDICT MATHURIN - OUT FOR SEASON - SHOULDER

FINAL CELTICS-PACERS PICK & PREDICTION

The Boston Celtics come into this road matchup in Game 3 with a ton of momentum after a dominating Game 2 victory at home.

However, it's the Indiana Pacers who will now get a taste of their home court where they are a perfect 6-0 this playoffs in front of their home crowd. As we know with these Celtics during this playoff run, there is that one letdown game and this could be that game in this series.

Ultimately, expect the Celtics to come out a bit flat in their first road game of the series where the Pacers will capitalize and keep that pressure on the Celtics throughout the matchup and finally come away with a victory as they head into Game 4 down just 2-1.

FINAL CELTICS-PACERS PICK & PREDICTION: INDIANA PACERS ML (+235)

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