The Celtics look to get again on observe after struggling their first 2 sport shedding streak of the season as they host the Indiana Pacers. This can be a rematch of the 2024 Japanese Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. That is the 2nd of three video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics misplaced the primary sport 135-132 in Time beyond regulation in Indiana. They’ll meet for the third and remaining time in 2 days on December 29 in Boston.
The Celtics gained the sequence final season 3 video games to 2. They performed an additional sport resulting from enjoying 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 109-86 total all time in video games in opposition to the Pacers. They’re 68-28 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 5 video games. They’re simply 2 video games forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve additionally gained 5 straight video games. The Celtics are 11-5 at residence, already shedding 1 extra sport at residence than they did all final season. They’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games and 1-3 of their final 4 video games. They’re 20-5 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and have misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Pacers are in eighth place within the East. They’re 11.5 video games behind 1st place Cleveland and seven.5 video games behind 2nd place Boston. They’re 1 sport behind the Warmth, who’re in sixth place. They’re 2.5 video games forward of eleventh place Philadelphia. The Pacers are 7-11 on the highway and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-12 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. That they had gained 5 video games in a row earlier than Thursday’s loss to the Thunder.
The Christmas Day loss to the 76ers was the primary sport of a 4 sport residence stand. This sport in opposition to Indiana is the primary of two video games in opposition to them in a row. They’ll face off once more on Sunday in Boston. The ultimate sport of the house stand might be in opposition to Toronto. They’ll then head out on a 4 sport Western highway journey by means of Minnesota, Ime Udoka’s Houston Rockets, Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They’ll 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. This sport is the second of again to again video games and the Pacers are 1-3 within the second of again to again video games. After this sport, these two groups face off once more on Sunday, additionally in Boston. 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.
After being listed as questionable for Wednesday’s sport, each Derick White (hamstring) and Jayson Tatum (sickness) each performed in opposition to the 76ers. Jrue Vacation missed Wednesday’s sport and is out for this sport resulting from a proper shoulder impingement. Kristaps Porzingis left Wednesday’s sport with a sprained ankle and can also be out for this sport. I’m guessing that Horford begins on the 4 and Tatum strikes to the three and Luke Kornet begins at middle. Only a guess
For the Pacers, Isaiah Jackson is out for the season after tearing his Achilles in a sport in early November. James Wiseman can also 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 sport in opposition to his former staff. Benedict Mathurin has been beginning rather than Nesmith. Obi Toppin (ankle) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) are each out for this sport. I don’t know who will begin in Nembhard’s place.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Sam Hauser
2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jrue Vacation (shoulder) out
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Pacers Reserves
Thomas Bryant
Johnny Furphy
James Johnson
TJ McConnell
Ben Sheppard
Jarace Walker
2-Method Gamers
Enrique Freeman
Quenton Jackson
Tristen Newton
Accidents/Out
Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) out
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) out
James Wiseman (Achilles) out
Obi Toppin (ankle) out
Andrew Nembhard (knee) out
Head Coach
Wealthy Carlisle
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
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Pascal Siakam
Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Pascal Siakam
Siakam is averaging 20.1 factors, 7.0 rebounds, and three.4 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 52.4% from the sector and 42.0% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, Siakam completed with 29 factors, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists whereas taking pictures 55% from the sector and 75% from past the arc. The Celtics have to get again to their defensive id and play higher protection on him on this sport.
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photographs
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Tyrese Haliburton
Photograph by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is averaging 17.8 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.2% from the sector and 35.5% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics, he completed with 17 factors, 6 rebounds, 12 assists and a pair of steals, whereas taking pictures 36.8% from the sector and 20% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend Haliburton for the go in addition to the shot. Vacation is questionable for this sport so it could be Derrick White beginning on the level if he can’t play.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Benedict Mathurin
Mathurin is averaging 16.6 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He’s taking pictures 45.5% from the sector and 35.5% from past the arc. Within the first sport in opposition to the Celtics he got here off the bench and completed with 30 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 assists whereas taking pictures 52.9% from the sector and 40% from past the arc.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to profitable each single sport. The Pacers haven’t been the scoring juggernaut they had been final season. They’re averaging 114.8 factors per sport (eleventh) whereas the Celtics are averaging 118.9points per sport (4th). The Celtics are eighth within the league with a defensive score of 109.7. The Pacers are twentieth with a defensive score of 114.3. The Celtics have to make protection their id and their precedence. Most of their losses this season may be traced to a scarcity 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 simple factors.
Rebound – The Celtics are seventh within the league, knocking down 45.3 rebounds per sport. The Pacers are twenty ninth with 40.6 rebounds per sport. It will be important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to offer themselves further 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 principally comes right down to effort. A lot of rebounding is want and energy and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort on the boards in the event that they wish to get again to profitable on a constant foundation.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics are going through one in all their hardest opponents from final season’s playoffs. There’s a good risk that they’ll see them within the playoffs in some unspecified time in the future this season. The Celtics effort of their final 2 video games was good at instances and never so good at different instances. The Celtics have to play tougher and provides extra effort than the Pacers. The Celtics have to offer most effort on the boards and on protection and in diving for free balls and forcing turnovers, they usually have to offer that effort for the whole sport and never simply 2 quarters.
Transfer the Ball – The Celtics are powerful to beat once they maintain the ball transferring they usually make the additional go to seek out the perfect shot. They wrestle once they lapse into iso ball and when gamers maintain the ball too lengthy. The Pacers transfer the ball very properly. They should discover the open man for the perfect shot and never simply throw up the primary shot and never dribbling the air out of the ball whereas time ticks off the shot clock. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should drive to the basket. 3’s are nice and provide you with an additional level and all, but when they don’t go in, 2 factors are higher than none.
X-Components
House Sport – 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 group assist for motivation. The Pacers must cope with journey and staying in lodges and enjoying 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 battle arduous for a win on this sport.
Accidents and Fatigue – 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 will’t play, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Payton Pritchard will see extra minutes and wish to select up the slack. The Pacers are enjoying on the second evening of again to again video games and needed to journey after Thursday’s sport. Fatigue could turn out to be an element for them down the stretch.
Officiating -Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a bit otherwise with some calling it tight and others letting them play. In latest video games, we’ve seen some very dangerous officiating and a few head scratching calls. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being known as and give attention to the sport and never on the officers.
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