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Pacers digging a hole that might be hard to get out of
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Game Preview
The reigning NBA champs return to the Circle City this week for the first time since Game 4 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
On Wednesday night in Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers (1-3) hope to get some revenge and end a three-game skid when they host the undefeated Boston Celtics (4-0) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Last time the teams met, the Celtics celebrated a 4-0 sweep on the Pacers' floor. The final win margin didn’t illustrate the closeness of each contest, however, as Game 1 went to overtime and Games 3 and 4 were decided by just three points each.
Indiana enters Wednesday night’s matchup dropping three straight games, including a 119-115 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday.
In Orlando, the Magic stormed back from an eight-point deficit late in the fourth quarter before Tyrese Haliburton made a 3-pointer to tie the game with 53 seconds remaining. Magic backup guard Anthony Black then answered with a triple of his own before Orlando managed a stop and made free throws to seal the win.
Indiana showed improvements against the Magic in some early-season problem areas, as they pulled down a season-high 44 rebounds (15 offensive) and had a season-low 13 turnovers. Six Pacers players scored in double figures against the Magic, as Indiana forward Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 26 points and Haliburton nearly notched a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists, and nine boards.
Boston hasn’t missed a beat since claiming the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy with a 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks in June, as the Celtics are just one of two teams still unbeaten in the East.
Through four games, the Celtics have the top offensive rating in the NBA and are averaging a league-best 124.3 points per game. Boston has made an NBA-high 86 3-pointers on a league-best 42.8 percent shooting as a team, relying on their deep shooting for 52 percent of their scoring.
Led by the All-NBA duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics return almost their entire roster from last season.
Tatum is averaging 28.5 points per game thus far on 51.2 percent shooting to go with 6.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists, and Brown is putting up 26.0 points while pulling down 7.8 rebounds nightly.
The Celtics travel to Indy after a 119-108 Monday night win over the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden.
Boston made 18 3-pointers against the Bucks, with Payton Pritchard drilling eight treys off the bench en route to 28 points. Brown scored a season-high 30 points to lead the Celtics.
Indiana had a record of 2-2 against Boston during the 2023-2024 regular season. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Celtics: G - Jrue Holiday, G - Derrick White, F - Jaylen Brown, F - Jayson Tatum, C - Al Horford Injury Report
Pacers: Johnny Furphy - questionable (strep throat), Myles Turner - questionable (left ankle sprain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon)
Celtics: Sam Hauser - probable (lower back injury management), Kristaps Porzingis - out (left posterior tibialis tendon surgery rehabilitation) Last Meeting
May 27, 2024: In a fight until the final buzzer, the Celtics eliminated the Pacers from the Eastern Conference Finals, 105-102, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Boston secured a 4-0 sweep over the Blue & Gold, and the Celtics went on to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
Indiana and Boston traded the lead 15 times in Game 4, and like in earlier games in the series, the Celtics came up clutch in the final moments to take the win. Tied at 102 with 45 seconds left in the game, Celtics guard Derrick White drilled a 3-pointer in the corner for what would prove to be the game-winner.
The Pacers outshot the Celtics 46 to 44.9 percent in Game 4 and also won the rebounding margin 47-44.
Andrew Nembhard, again starting at point guard with Tyrese Haliburton out due to a hamstring injury, led the Pacers with 24 points and 10 assists, while Pascal Siakam scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell added 15 points off the bench. Aaron Nesmith (14 points) and Obi Toppin (12 points) also scored double figures.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, Jayson Tatum had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, Jrue Holiday logged 17 points and nine boards, and White finished with 16 points for the visitors. Noteworthy
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst), Jorge Sedano (sideline reporter)
FanDuel Sports Network - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) Tickets
Up Next
The Pacers will welcome Jayson Tatum and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Game Preview
The reigning NBA champs return to the Circle City this week for the first time since Game 4 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
On Wednesday night in Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers (1-3) hope to get some revenge and end a three-game skid when they host the undefeated Boston Celtics (4-0) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Last time the teams met, the Celtics celebrated a 4-0 sweep on the Pacers' floor. The final win margin didn’t illustrate the closeness of each contest, however, as Game 1 went to overtime and Games 3 and 4 were decided by just three points each.
Indiana enters Wednesday night’s matchup dropping three straight games, including a 119-115 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday.
In Orlando, the Magic stormed back from an eight-point deficit late in the fourth quarter before Tyrese Haliburton made a 3-pointer to tie the game with 53 seconds remaining. Magic backup guard Anthony Black then answered with a triple of his own before Orlando managed a stop and made free throws to seal the win.
Indiana showed improvements against the Magic in some early-season problem areas, as they pulled down a season-high 44 rebounds (15 offensive) and had a season-low 13 turnovers. Six Pacers players scored in double figures against the Magic, as Indiana forward Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 26 points and Haliburton nearly notched a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists, and nine boards.
Boston hasn’t missed a beat since claiming the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy with a 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks in June, as the Celtics are just one of two teams still unbeaten in the East.
Through four games, the Celtics have the top offensive rating in the NBA and are averaging a league-best 124.3 points per game. Boston has made an NBA-high 86 3-pointers on a league-best 42.8 percent shooting as a team, relying on their deep shooting for 52 percent of their scoring.
Led by the All-NBA duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics return almost their entire roster from last season.
Tatum is averaging 28.5 points per game thus far on 51.2 percent shooting to go with 6.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists, and Brown is putting up 26.0 points while pulling down 7.8 rebounds nightly.
The Celtics travel to Indy after a 119-108 Monday night win over the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden.
Boston made 18 3-pointers against the Bucks, with Payton Pritchard drilling eight treys off the bench en route to 28 points. Brown scored a season-high 30 points to lead the Celtics.
Indiana had a record of 2-2 against Boston during the 2023-2024 regular season. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Celtics: G - Jrue Holiday, G - Derrick White, F - Jaylen Brown, F - Jayson Tatum, C - Al Horford Injury Report
Pacers: Johnny Furphy - questionable (strep throat), Myles Turner - questionable (left ankle sprain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon)
Celtics: Sam Hauser - probable (lower back injury management), Kristaps Porzingis - out (left posterior tibialis tendon surgery rehabilitation) Last Meeting
May 27, 2024: In a fight until the final buzzer, the Celtics eliminated the Pacers from the Eastern Conference Finals, 105-102, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Boston secured a 4-0 sweep over the Blue & Gold, and the Celtics went on to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
Indiana and Boston traded the lead 15 times in Game 4, and like in earlier games in the series, the Celtics came up clutch in the final moments to take the win. Tied at 102 with 45 seconds left in the game, Celtics guard Derrick White drilled a 3-pointer in the corner for what would prove to be the game-winner.
The Pacers outshot the Celtics 46 to 44.9 percent in Game 4 and also won the rebounding margin 47-44.
Andrew Nembhard, again starting at point guard with Tyrese Haliburton out due to a hamstring injury, led the Pacers with 24 points and 10 assists, while Pascal Siakam scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell added 15 points off the bench. Aaron Nesmith (14 points) and Obi Toppin (12 points) also scored double figures.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, Jayson Tatum had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, Jrue Holiday logged 17 points and nine boards, and White finished with 16 points for the visitors. Noteworthy
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is tied with Bill Fitch for 11th all-time in NBA coaching wins. A win against the Celtics would be the 945th for Carlisle as a head coach.
- Myles Turner needs 29 points to hit 8,000 for his career with the Blue & Gold. He would become just the ninth player in Pacers NBA history to reach the mark.
- Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was teammates with Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White on Team USA this past summer at the Paris Olympics.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst), Jorge Sedano (sideline reporter)
FanDuel Sports Network - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) Tickets
Up Next
The Pacers will welcome Jayson Tatum and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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