The Celtics host the Indiana Pacers for the 2nd time in as many days. This can be a rematch of the 2024 Japanese Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. That is the third and ultimate 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 have been taking part in within the second of again to again video games and so the Celtics could have to 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 recreation as a consequence of taking part in within the knock out spherical of the in season match, 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 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 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 shedding 1 extra recreation 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 wish 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 street and 6-4 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-13 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. That they had 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 recreation of a 4 recreation house 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 can be in opposition to Toronto. They’ll then head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They’ll 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 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 can be again for this recreation but when he isn’t capable of play, Sam Hauser could as soon as once more begin. Kristaps Porzingis additionally missed his second straight contest Sunday as a consequence of a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this recreation. If he’s unable to play, Al Horford will doubtless 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 workforce. Benedict Mathurin has been beginning instead of Nesmith. Obi Toppin missed Friday’s recreation and is questionable for this recreation with an ankle sprain. Andrew Nembhard missed Friday’s recreation however just isn’t on the harm record at the moment.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier TillmanSam Hauser
2 Manner 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-Manner 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
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photos
Pascal Siakam
Picture 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 capturing 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 capturing 45.5% from the sector and 50.3% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend him intently and restrict his scoring.
Grid View
Jrue Vacation
Picture by Elsa/Getty Photos
Tyrese Haliburton
Picture 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 capturing 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 capturing 45.2% from the sector and 37.5% from past the arc. The Celtics have to defend Haliburton for the go 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 capturing 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 capturing 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 Sport Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each single recreation. The Pacers haven’t been the scoring juggernaut they have 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 could be traced to a scarcity 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, knocking down 45.5 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are twenty eighth with 40.8 rebounds per recreation. It is necessary for the Celtics to rebound the ball to offer 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 largely comes right 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 among 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 2 latest 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 your 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 exhausting 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 need to get again to giving 100% effort in each recreation.
X-FactorsHome 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 court docket and use the group help for motivation. The Pacers need to take care of journey and staying in lodges and taking part in on an unfamiliar court docket and in entrance of hostile followers. The Celtics want to make use of house court docket to their benefit and battle exhausting 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 is going to be harder with out one or each of these gamers. Hopefully they each can play. If they will’t play, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard will see extra minutes and want 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 all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport a bit of in a different way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. In latest video games, we’ve 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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