The Celtics host the Indiana Pacers for the 2nd time in as many days. It is a rematch of the 2024 Jap Convention Finals that the Celtics swept. That is the third and last 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 had been taking part in within the second of again to again video games and so the Celtics might have to be prepared for extra power from Indiana on this one.
The Celtics gained the sequence final season 3 video games to 2. They performed an additional recreation on account of taking part in within the knock out spherical of the in season match, 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 110-86 general all time in video games towards 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 gained their final 6 video games. They’re simply 2 video games forward of the third place Knicks, who’ve additionally gained 6 straight video games. The Celtics are 12-5 at house, already dropping 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 towards Jap Convention groups and want 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 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’d gained 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 towards the Pacers is the second of two video games towards them in a row and the third recreation of the house stand. The ultimate recreation of the house stand might be towards Toronto. They may then head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by way of Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They may 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 had 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 towards Cleveland.
Jrue Vacation missed Friday’s recreation towards 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 might be again for this recreation but when he isn’t capable of play, Sam Hauser might as soon as once more begin. Kristaps Porzingis additionally missed his second straight contest Sunday on account of a left ankle sprain and is questionable for this recreation. 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 recreation 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 towards the Pelicans on Nov. 1. He’s nonetheless weeks away from being cleared for contact and so will miss this recreation towards his former crew. 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 isn’t on the harm record presently.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh
Xavier Tillman
Sam Hauser
2 Means 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-Means 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 Photographs
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Pascal Siakam
Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photographs
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 towards 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 must defend him carefully and restrict his scoring.
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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 17.4 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 towards 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 must defend Haliburton for the move in addition to the shot. Vacation is questionable for this recreation so it might 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 capturing 45.3% from the sector and 35.9% from past the arc. Over his profession towards 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 pair 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 choose up the place he left off in that recreation.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is the important thing to successful each single recreation. The Pacers haven’t been the scoring juggernaut they had 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 ranking of 109.7. The Pacers are twenty third with a defensive ranking of 115.4. The Celtics must make protection their identification and their precedence. Most of their losses this season will be traced to a scarcity of constant effort on the defensive finish. The Celtics should play robust protection to stop 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’s important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to offer themselves additional 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 however on Friday, the Celtics out-rebounded the Pacers 52-39. A lot of rebounding is need 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 certainly one of 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 occasions and never so good at different occasions. The Celtics must 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 unfastened balls and forcing turnovers, and so they have to offer that effort for your entire 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 arduous 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 should get again to giving 100% effort in each recreation.
X-Components
Dwelling Recreation – 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 should cope with 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 combat arduous 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 select 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 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 give attention to the sport and never on the officers.
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