Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Preview & Prediction – 12/26/2025

The Boston Celtics make the trip to take on the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in an Eastern Conference rematch. Boston enters this contest favored on the road after a 103-95 comeback victory over the Pacers just days earlier, while Indiana has dropped its last six games and will attempt to turn things around in front of its home fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Here, I’ve broken down this contest on the court and you can find my Celtics vs Pacers prediction right here.

Our Celtics vs Pacers Pick

Game Snapshot

• Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers
• Date & Time: Friday, December 26, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
• Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Broadcast: NBA League Pass

Key Storylines

Boston is currently near the top of the Eastern Conference and has been rolling recently. The Celtics improved its offensive output behind scoring star Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 29.4 points per game alongside solid all-around production. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard continue to contribute scoring and playmaking, while Neemias Queta provides interior presence and has stepped up nicely since the departures of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

The Celtics’ defense is ranked among the better units leaguewide and tightened up late in their recent win over Indiana. Boston held the Pacers to just 34 second-half points in that 103-95 victory. Slowing down the three-point shooting of the Pacers from the start would help make things easier for the Celtics in this contest.

Indiana is enduring a tough stretch, having lost six straight and ranking near the bottom of the NBA’s offensive efficiency metrics this season. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard remain focal points for the Pacers’ scoring efforts, but the supporting cast has struggled to consistently generate offense. Indiana’s rebounding woes and defensive lapses have compounded its issues, making it difficult to keep games close against quality opponents.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

• Boston is 8-2 straight up in its last 10 games against Indiana.
• The Celtics won the first meeting between these teams this season on Monday.
• Indiana is 15-15 against the spread this season.
• Boston is 16-13 against the spread going into Friday’s game.
• The under has hit in 19 of Indiana’s first 30 games.
• Boston has stayed under the total in 16 of their first 29 games.

Best Player Props to Watch

Celtics vs Pacers Model Projection

Final Thoughts

Jay Sanin

Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.