Indiana Pacers (6-22) at Boston Celtics (17-11)Monday, December 22, 20257:30 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #29 Residence Recreation #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. This can be 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 collection in Boston on January 21. The Pacers gained the collection 2-1 final season, with the Celtics profitable one in Boston and shedding 1 in Boston and one in Indiana.
The Celtics are 110-87 general, all time towards 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 dwelling towards the Bucks on Tuesday. They’re 1-3 up to now this season within the first of again to again video games. The Celtics may have off till Thursday once 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 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 9-5 at dwelling and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’ve gained 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 towards 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. Additionally they drafted Kam Jones with the thirty eighth decide and Taelon Peter with the 54th decide.
After this recreation at dwelling towards Indiana, they may head out on a 5 recreation highway journey that can begin in Indiana on the day after Christmas after which undergo Portland, Utah, Sacramento and the LA Clippers. Subsequent they’ve a 4 recreation dwelling stand the place they host Chicago, Denver, Toronto, and San Antonio earlier than a 4 recreation highway journey by way of Indiana as soon as once more, Miami, Atlanta and the ultimate recreation at Detroit.
The Pacers will return dwelling after this recreation to play Milwaukee after which Boston. After that they may play at Miami, and at Houston earlier than returning dwelling to host Orlando and San Antonio. Then they play at Orlando, at dwelling towards Cleveland, at Charlotte after which again dwelling to host Miami and Boston as soon as once more.
Jayson Tatum stays out with the Achilles damage. Jaylen Brown missed Saturday’s recreation towards 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 together with Sam Hauser, Luka Garza or Josh Minott and even another person.
For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is out attributable to an Achilles tear he suffered in final years Jap Convention Finals. Aaron Nesmith is out attributable to a knee damage. Ben Sheppard is out with a Grade 1 left calf pressure. Obi Toppin is out after surgical procedure to put a screw in his proper foot. TJ McConnell is out with knee soreness. Johnny Furphy was questionable attributable to 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 capturing 42.7% from the sector 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 towards the Celtics. The Celtics have to defend him carefully and restrict his scoring. I’m guessing that Gonzalez will get the beginning rather than Walsh, but it surely 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 capturing 43.3% from the sector and 37.6% from past the arc. Over his profession towards 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 more likely to begin in his place.
Honorable MentionDerrick White vs Andrew NembhardNembhard is averaging 17.5 factors, 2.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists whereas capturing 42.5% from the sector and 36.4% from past the arc. Over his profession towards 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 profitable 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 score of 108.1 whereas the Celtics have an offensive score of 121.3 (third). The Celtics are sixteenth within the league with a defensive score of 114.7. The Pacers are nineteenth with a defensive score of 116.1. The Celtics have to make protection their identification and their precedence. Most of their losses this season may be traced to an absence 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 is necessary for the Celtics to rebound the ball to present 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 count on a straightforward win. However that will 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 arduous 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 arduous 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 should get again to giving 100% effort in each recreation.
X-FactorsHome Recreation – The Celtics are at dwelling and will have the gang behind them. The Celtics want to guard dwelling courtroom and use the gang assist for motivation. The Pacers should take care of journey and staying in motels and taking part in on an unfamiliar courtroom and in entrance of hostile followers. The Celtics want to make use of dwelling courtroom to their benefit and struggle arduous for a win on this recreation.Officiating – The officiating can at all times 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 courtroom. And generally the refs are merely unhealthy. The Celtics should play by way 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 unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their deal with the sport.
