Overview
- Tip-off is 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on NBC Sports Boston, with the Celtics priced at -8.5 and the total at 221.5.
- Indiana has lost six straight to fall to 6-24 and ranks last in points, field-goal percentage, and three-point percentage, keeping Rick Carlisle at 999 career wins.
- The Pacers remain depleted, with Isaiah Jackson (concussion) and Ben Sheppard (calf) out and Aaron Nesmith (knee), Obi Toppin (foot), and Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles, season) still sidelined.
- Boston has won three in a row and eight of its last 10 behind a defense that ranks near the top of the league in scoring prevention.
- Jaylen Brown has seven straight 30-point games, including 31 in Monday’s 103-95 win over Indiana that swung after Joe Mazzulla’s reserves keyed a 19-5 run.