Indiana Pacers (6-22) at Boston Celtics (17-11)Monday, December 22, 20257:30 PM ETRegular Season Sport #29 Residence Sport #15TV: NBCSB, FDSN, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 107.5 The Fan, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics host the Indiana Pacers for the primary of 4 conferences this season. It is a rematch of the 2024 Jap Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. They are going to play in Indiana on December 26 and January 12. They are going to end out the sequence in Boston on January 21. The Pacers received the sequence 2-1 final season, with the Celtics successful one in Boston and dropping 1 in Boston and one in Indiana.
The Celtics are 110-87 general, all time in opposition to the Pacers and 63-28 in video games performed in Boston. The Pacers are taking part in within the first of again to again video games and can play at residence in opposition to the Bucks on Tuesday. They’re 1-3 to this point this season within the first of again to again video games. The Celtics can have off till Thursday after they play the Pacers in Indiana once more.
The Celtics are third within the East, 5 video games behind 1st place Detroit, and three video games behind 2nd place New York. They’re half a recreation forward of 4th place Philadelphia and 1 recreation forward of fifth place Orlando and sixth place Toronto. The Celtics are 13-8 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’re 9-5 at residence and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’ve received their final 2 video games.
The Pacers are 14th within the East, 16 video games behind first place Detroit. They’re 2.5 video games behind thirteenth place Brooklyn, 3 video games behind twelfth place Charlotte, and 5 video games behind eleventh place Milwaukee. They’re tied with final place Washington. The Pacers are 4-12 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents. They’re 1-12 on the highway and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’ve misplaced their final 4 video games.
In contrast to the Celtics that modified rather a lot after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles damage, the Pacers stayed principally the identical with only a couple modifications. The largest change was that Myles Turner, who had been with the group for 10 seasons, left as a free agent for Milwaukee. Thomas Bryant additionally left as a free agent. The Pacers signed Jay Huff to fill Turner’s function at heart. In addition they drafted Kam Jones with the thirty eighth decide and Taelon Peter with the 54th decide.
After this recreation at residence in opposition to Indiana, they may head out on a 5 recreation highway journey that may begin in Indiana on the day after Christmas after which undergo Portland, Utah, Sacramento and the LA Clippers. Subsequent they’ve a 4 recreation residence stand the place they host Chicago, Denver, Toronto, and San Antonio earlier than a 4 recreation highway journey by means of Indiana as soon as once more, Miami, Atlanta and the ultimate recreation at Detroit.
The Pacers will return residence after this recreation to play Milwaukee after which Boston. After that they may play at Miami, and at Houston earlier than returning residence to host Orlando and San Antonio. Then they play at Orlando, at residence in opposition to Cleveland, at Charlotte after which again residence to host Miami and Boston as soon as once more.
Jayson Tatum stays out with the Achilles damage. Jaylen Brown missed Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Raptors with an sickness and was questionable for this recreation however is now listed as avaiulable. Jordan Walsh missed the second half of Saturday’s recreation with an sickness and is listed as out for this recreation. I’m guessing that Hugo Gonzalez will get the beginning, however Joe might additionally go along with Sam Hauser, Luka Garza or Josh Minott and even another person.
For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is out on account of an Achilles tear he suffered in final years Jap Convention Finals. Aaron Nesmith is out on account of a knee damage. Ben Sheppard is out with a Grade 1 left calf pressure. Obi Toppin is out after surgical procedure to position a screw in his proper foot. TJ McConnell is out with knee soreness. Johnny Furphy was questionable on account of a sprained ankle however is now listed as out there.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Andrew Nembhard
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Quenton Jackson
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Benedict Mathurin
PF: Hugo Gonzalez vs Pascal Siakam
C: Neemias Queta vs Jay Huff
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsXavier TillmanJosh MinottSam HauserLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanChris Boucher
2-Manner PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari Williams
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (sickness) availableJordan Walsh (sickness) outHead CoachJoe Mazzulla
Pacers ReservesTony BradleyJohnny FurphyIsaiah JacksonKam JonesGarrison MathewsJarace WalkerJames Wiseman
Two-Manner PlayersQuenton JacksonTaelon PeterEthan Thompson
Accidents/OutTyrese Haliburton (Achilles) outAaron Nesmith (knee) outBen Sheppard (calf) outObi Toppin (foot) outJohnny Furphy (ankle) availableTJ McConnell (knee) out
Key MatchupsHugo Gonzalez vs Pascal SiakamSiakam is averaging 23.8 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per recreation whereas taking pictures 42.7% from the sphere and 35.4% from past the arc. Over his profession, Siakam has averaged 17.8 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation in opposition to the Celtics. The Celtics have to defend him intently and restrict his scoring. I’m guessing that Gonzalez will get the beginning rather than Walsh, however it might simply as simply be Hauser, Minott, Garza or Scheierman.
Jaylen Brown vs Benedict MathurinMathurin is averaging 18.9 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and a pair of.2 assists. He’s taking pictures 43.3% from the sphere and 37.6% from past the arc. Over his profession in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 16.0 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and a pair of.0 assists. If Jaylen has to overlook this recreation, Sam Hauser is prone to begin in his place.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Andrew NembhardNembhard is averaging 17.5 factors, 2.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists whereas taking pictures 42.5% from the sphere and 36.4% from past the arc. Over his profession in opposition to the Celtics, he has averaged 8.6 factors, 2.4 rebounds, and three.1 assists per recreation.
Keys to the GameDefense – 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 final within the league with an offensive ranking of 108.1 whereas the Celtics have an offensive ranking of 121.3 (third). The Celtics are sixteenth within the league with a defensive ranking of 114.7. The Pacers are nineteenth with a defensive ranking of 116.1. The Celtics have to make protection their identification and their precedence. Most of their losses this season could be traced to a scarcity of constant effort on the defensive finish.
Rebound – The Celtics are nineteenth within the league, knocking down 43.9 rebounds per recreation. The Pacers are seventeenth with 44.1 rebounds per recreation. It can be crucial for the Celtics to rebound the ball to offer themselves further possessions and to forestall the Pacers from getting the identical together with 2nd likelihood factors. A lot of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have gotten to place out extra effort than the Pacers to seize rebounds.Don’t Underestimate – It could be simple for the Celtics to underestimate the Pacers and anticipate a straightforward win. However that may be a mistake. Any group can win on any night time if the opposite group lets down their guard. The Pacers have wins over the Warriors, Hornets, Wizards, Kings and the Bulls (twice). The Celtics misplaced to the Nets and the Bucks, each of whom they need to have overwhelmed. They’ve to return out and play laborious and never underestimate the brief handed Pacers.
Be Constant – The Celtics can’t be content material with getting huge wins on Friday and Saturday. They confirmed good effort and performed laborious on each ends in these video games, but when they let up on this recreation, all that effort actually achieved nothing. The Celtics appear to win huge video games after which let up and lose to groups they need to beat. The Celtics need to get again to giving 100% effort in each recreation.
X-FactorsHome Sport – The Celtics are at residence and will have the gang behind them. The Celtics want to guard residence court docket and use the gang help for motivation. The Pacers need to take care of journey and staying in inns 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 battle laborious for a win on this recreation.Officiating – The officiating can all the time be an x-factor. Some referees name the sport tight and others allow them to play. Some favor the house group and others name it evenly. Some refs simply appear to have an agenda that doesn’t match the play on the court docket. And generally the refs are merely dangerous. The Celtics need to play by means of nevertheless the refs name the sport, whether or not it’s tight or they allow them to play or they make horrible calls. The Celtics can’t permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their give attention to the sport.
