The Celtics host the Indiana Pacers for the 2nd time in as many days. It is a rematch of the 2024 Jap Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. That is the third and last recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics misplaced the primary recreation 135-132 in Extra time in Indiana. They beat the Pacers 142-105 on Friday in Boston. The Pacers had been taking part in within the second of again to again video games and so the Celtics could must be prepared for extra power from Indiana on this one.
The Celtics gained the collection final season 3 video games to 2. They performed an additional recreation because of taking part in within the knock out spherical of the in season event, which the Pacers gained. The Celtics gained the two video games in Boston and one of many 3 video games in Indiana, whereas the Pacers gained 2 video games in Indiana. The Celtics are 110-86 total all time in video games in opposition to the Pacers. They’re 69-28 in video games performed in Boston.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 4 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve gained their final 6 video games. They’re simply 2 video games forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve additionally gained 6 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-5 at residence, already dropping 1 extra recreation at residence than they did all final season. They’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-6 in opposition to Jap Convention groups and need to win their second straight recreation.
The Pacers are in eighth place within the East. They’re 12.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland and eight.5 video games behind 2nd place Boston. They’re 1.5 video games behind the Warmth, who’re in seventh place. They’re 2 video games forward of eleventh place Philadelphia. The Pacers are 7-12 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-13 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. That they had gained 5 video games in a row earlier than losses to the Thunder and Celtics again to again.
The Christmas Day loss to the 76ers was the primary recreation of a 4 recreation residence stand. This recreation in opposition to the Pacers is the second of two video games in opposition to them in a row and the third recreation of the house stand. The ultimate recreation of the house stand shall be in opposition to Toronto. They are going to then head out on a 4 recreation Western highway journey by way of Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They are going to return residence to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto earlier than going through Orlando and Atlanta at residence.
The Pacers had been off on Christmas Day however hosted the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Thursday and the Friday, again to again, they confronted the Celtics. The Pacers then alternate residence and highway video games as they host Milwaukee and play at Miami. Then host Phoenix after which play at Brooklyn. Then 2 video games at residence vs Chicago and Golden State. Following that, they’ve a house and residential collection in opposition to Cleveland.
Jrue Vacation missed Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Pacers. Vacation has missed back-to-back video games with a proper shoulder impingement and is questionable for this recreation. I’m guessing that Vacation shall be again for this recreation but when he isn’t in a position to play, Sam Hauser could as soon as once more begin. Kristaps Porzingis additionally missed his second straight contest Sunday because of a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this recreation. If he’s unable to play, Al Horford will possible begin in his place.
For the Pacers, Isaiah Jackson is out for the season after tearing his Achilles in a recreation in early November. James Wiseman can be out for the season after having surgical procedure on his torn Achilles tendon in October. Former Celtic Aaron Nesmith sprained his left ankle in opposition to the Pelicans on Nov. 1. He’s nonetheless weeks away from being cleared for contact and so will miss this recreation in opposition to his former crew. Benedict Mathurin has been beginning rather than Nesmith. Obi Toppin missed Friday’s recreation and is questionable for this recreation with an ankle sprain. Andrew Nembhard missed Friday’s recreation however will not be on the harm checklist presently.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam Hauser
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutJrue Vacation (shoulder) questionableKristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
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Pacers ReservesThomas Bryant Johnny FurphyJames JohnsonTJ McConnellBen Sheppard Jarace Walker
2-Means PlayersEnrique FreemanQuenton JacksonTristen Newton
Accidents/Out Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) out Aaron Nesmith (ankle) outJames Wiseman (Achilles) out Obi Toppin (ankle) questionable
Head Coach Wealthy Carlisle
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photos
Pascal Siakam
Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos
Jayson Tatum vs Pascal Siakam Siakam is averaging 19.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and three.3 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 52.1% from the sector and 43.8% from past the arc. Over his profession, Siakam has averaged 17.9 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation in opposition to the Celtics. On Friday, Siakam completed with 14 factors, 9 rebounds, 1 help and 1 steal whereas taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 50.3% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend him carefully and restrict his scoring.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos
Tyrese Haliburton
Photograph by Dylan Buell/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Haliburton Haliburton is averaging 17.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 43.1% from the sector and 35.3% from past the arc. Over his profession in opposition to the Celtics, Haliburton is averaging 18.4 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.6 steals. On Friday, he completed with 19 factors, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists whereas taking pictures 45.2% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend Haliburton for the move in addition to the shot. Vacation is questionable for this recreation so it could be Derrick White beginning on the level if he can’t play.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Benedict MathurinMathurin is averaging 16.7 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He’s taking pictures 45.3% from the sector and 35.9% from past the arc. Over his profession in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 16.2 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. On Friday, he completed with 18 factors, 6 rebounds, and a couple of assists whereas taking pictures 46.2% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. Jaylen Brown had an enormous recreation on Friday, and hopefully he can decide up the place he left off in that recreation.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each single recreation. The Pacers haven’t been the scoring juggernaut they had been final season. They’re averaging 114.4 factors per recreation (eleventh) whereas the Celtics are averaging 119.6 factors per recreation (third). The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive score of 109.7. The Pacers are twenty third with a defensive score of 115.4. The Celtics have to make protection their id and their precedence. Most of their losses this season will be traced to an absence of constant effort on the defensive finish. The Celtics must play powerful protection to stop the Pacers from getting out on the break and scoring straightforward factors.
Rebound – The Celtics are fifth within the league, flattening 45.5 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are twenty eighth with 40.8 rebounds per recreation. It’s important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to offer themselves additional possessions and to stop the Pacers from getting the identical together with 2nd probability factors. The Celtics haven’t been rebounding in addition to they did final season, which largely comes all the way down to effort however on Friday, the Celtics out-rebounded the Pacers 52-39. A lot of rebounding is need and energy and the Celtics have gotten to as soon as once more put out extra effort to seize rebounds.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics are going through considered one of their hardest opponents from final season’s playoffs. There’s a good risk that they may see them within the playoffs sooner or later this season. The Celtics effort of their 2 current losses was good at instances and never so good at different instances. The Celtics have to play more durable and provides extra effort than the Pacers. The Celtics have to offer most effort on the boards and on protection and in diving for unfastened balls and forcing turnovers, and so they have to offer that effort for the complete recreation and never simply 2 quarters.
Be Constant – The Celtics can’t be content material with getting an enormous win on Friday. They confirmed good effort and performed laborious on each ends in that recreation, but when they let up on this recreation, all that effort actually achieved nothing. Joe Mazzula talked about the shortage of consistency after the loss to the 76ers on Christmas Day. The Celtics must get again to giving 100% effort in each recreation.
X-FactorsHome Recreation – The Celtics misplaced simply 4 residence video games all final season. They’ve already misplaced 5 this season. . The Celtics want to guard residence court docket and use the gang assist for motivation. The Pacers must cope with journey and staying in accommodations and taking part in on an unfamiliar court docket and in entrance of hostile followers. The Celtics want to make use of residence court docket to their benefit and combat laborious for a win on this recreation.
Accidents – The Celtics could also be with out Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation. It goes with out saying that it will likely be harder with out one or each of these gamers. Hopefully they each can play. If they’ll’t play, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard will see extra minutes and want to select up the slack. The Pacers even have Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, and James Wiseman out and Obi Toppin is questionable.
Officiating -Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport slightly in another way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. In current video games, now we have seen some very unhealthy officiating and a few head scratching calls. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being known as and concentrate on the sport and never on the officers.
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