The Celtics host the Indiana Pacers for the 2nd time in as many days. It is a rematch of the 2024 Japanese Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. That is the third and last sport between these two groups this season. The Celtics misplaced the primary sport 135-132 in Time beyond regulation in Indiana. They beat the Pacers 142-105 on Friday in Boston. The Pacers have been taking part in within the second of again to again video games and so the Celtics could must be prepared for extra vitality from Indiana on this one.
The Celtics received the sequence final season 3 video games to 2. They performed an additional sport attributable to taking part in within the knock out spherical of the in season event, which the Pacers received. The Celtics received the two video games in Boston and one of many 3 video games in Indiana, whereas the Pacers received 2 video games in Indiana. The Celtics are 110-86 general 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 received their final 6 video games. They’re simply 2 video games forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve additionally received 6 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-5 at house, already dropping 1 extra sport at house than they did all final season. They’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 21-6 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and want to win their second straight sport.
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 street and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-13 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’d received 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 sport of a 4 sport house stand. This sport in opposition to the Pacers is the second of two video games in opposition to them in a row and the third sport of the house stand. The ultimate sport of the house stand might be in opposition to Toronto. They are going to then head out on a 4 sport Western street journey by means of Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They are going to return house to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto earlier than dealing with Orlando and Atlanta at house.
The Pacers have 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 house and street video games as they host Milwaukee and play at Miami. Then host Phoenix after which play at Brooklyn. Then 2 video games at house vs Chicago and Golden State. Following that, they’ve a house and residential sequence in opposition to Cleveland.
Jrue Vacation missed Friday’s sport in opposition to the Pacers. Vacation has missed back-to-back video games with a proper shoulder impingement and is questionable for this sport. I’m guessing that Vacation might be again for this sport 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 attributable to a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this sport. 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 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 crew. Benedict Mathurin has been beginning rather than Nesmith. Obi Toppin missed Friday’s sport and is questionable for this sport with an ankle sprain. Andrew Nembhard missed Friday’s sport however isn’t on the damage checklist at the moment.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Sam Hauser
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson
Accidents/Out
Jrue Vacation (shoulder) questionable
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Pacers Starters
Pacers Reserves
Thomas Bryant
Johnny Furphy
James Johnson
TJ McConnell
Ben Sheppard
Jarace Walker
2-Approach Gamers
Enrique Freeman
Quenton Jackson
Tristen Newton
Accidents/Out
Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) out
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) out
James 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 Pictures
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Pascal Siakam
Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Jayson Tatum vs Pascal Siakam
Siakam is averaging 19.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and three.3 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 52.1% from the sphere 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 sport 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 sphere and 50.3% from past the arc. The Celtics must defend him intently and restrict his scoring.
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Elsa/Getty Pictures
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Tyrese Haliburton
Photograph by Dylan Buell/Getty Pictures
Jrue Vacation vs Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton is averaging 17.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per sport. He’s taking pictures 43.1% from the sphere 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 sphere and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics must 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 16.7 factors, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He’s taking pictures 45.3% from the sphere 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 sphere and 50% from past the arc. Jaylen Brown had an enormous sport on Friday, and hopefully he can decide up the place he left off in that sport.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each single sport. The Pacers haven’t been the scoring juggernaut they have been final season. They’re averaging 114.4 factors per sport (eleventh) whereas the Celtics are averaging 119.6 factors per sport (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 must make protection their identification and their precedence. Most of their losses this season might be traced to an absence of constant effort on the defensive finish. The Celtics need to play robust protection to forestall 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 sport. The Pacers are twenty eighth with 40.8 rebounds per sport. It can be crucial for the Celtics to rebound the ball to provide themselves additional possessions and to forestall 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 all the way down to effort however on Friday, the Celtics out-rebounded the Pacers 52-39. A lot of rebounding is want 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 dealing with one in every of their hardest opponents from final season’s playoffs. There’s a good chance that they’ll see them within the playoffs sooner or later this season. The Celtics effort of their 2 latest losses was good at instances and never so good at different instances. The Celtics must play more durable and provides extra effort than the Pacers. The Celtics have to provide most effort on the boards and on protection and in diving for unfastened balls and forcing turnovers, they usually have to provide that effort for your complete sport 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 sport, but when they let up on this sport, all that effort actually completed nothing. Joe Mazzula talked about the shortage of consistency after the loss to the 76ers on Christmas Day. The Celtics need to get again to giving 100% effort in each sport.
X-Elements
House Sport – The Celtics misplaced simply 4 house video games all final season. They’ve already misplaced 5 this season. . The Celtics want to guard house courtroom and use the gang assist for motivation. The Pacers need to take care of journey and staying in accommodations and taking part in on an unfamiliar courtroom and in entrance of hostile followers. The Celtics want to make use of house courtroom to their benefit and struggle laborious for a win on this sport.
Accidents – The Celtics could also be with out Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation. It goes with out saying that it is going to 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 wish to choose up the slack. The Pacers even have Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, and James Wiseman out and Obi Toppin is questionable.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a bit in a different way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. In latest video games, we now have seen some very unhealthy officiating and a few head scratching calls. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and deal with the sport and never on the officers.
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