Everything you need to know about the Celtics' 122-117 loss to the Pacers with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Kemba Walker’s sensational night spoiled by ugly fourth quarter: Walker (season-high 44 points) looked unstoppable for the better part of 48 minutes on Wednesday night but it wasn't enough for a Celtics team that did not bring it on the defensive end for most of the night. The visitors blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and were outscored 38-23 in the final frame as the Pacers rallied for a 122-117 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The shorthanded C's were playing without Marcus Smart (eye infection) and then lost Gordon Hayward in the fourth quarter to a possible concussion after the swingman took a shot to his nose. With Daniel Theis and Jaylen Brown both fouling out in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, the C's were short on reliable bodies late to stop an efficient Pacers offense as Malcolm Brogdon (29 points) led a balanced Pacers scoring attack that featured six players scoring in double figures. Boston sees their four-game winning streak snapped and faces another test on Thursday night at the Garden against a rested Sixers team.
Gordon Hayward leaves the game after a shot to the nose: The swingman had a relatively quiet night (9 points, 3 assists) over his 25 minutes but the team got a bit of a scare in the fourth quarter when he took a hard swat to the face from Doug McDermott. The hit clearly dazed Hayward who left with the C’s trainer to go to the locker room midway through the fourth quarter and did not return. He told reporters after the game that he just had a headache and did not think he suffered a concussion but with a matchup looming against the Sixers Thursday night, his availability may be in question for the back-to-back, pending how he feels upon arriving back in Boston.
"I just got hit in the nose and immediately couldn't really see much and felt pretty dizzy," Hayward told reporters. "I still have a pretty good headache right now, but hopefully by tomorrow it should be good."
TURNING POINT
The Pacers quickly erased a 10-point Celtics' lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter as three quick turnovers against an all-bench unit with Tatum helped Indy put together a quick 10-2 run in the first three minutes of the frame. That swing in momentum was critical as the C's lost their needed cushion in a hostile environment.
TWO UP
Kemba Walker: The All-Star put together his best game as a Celtic, scoring 39 points through the first three quarters alone on his way to a season-high 44 points and 7 assists. Most impressively, he was incredibly efficient with his production, shooting a scorching hot 16-of-28 from the field and 7-of-15 from 3-point range.
Jaylen Brown: The swingman helped the starters get off to a sensational start with their ball movement, matching his career-high of five assists in the first nine minutes of the game on his way to a career-high eight on the night. He also led the team with 8 rebounds and chipped in with 18 points before fouling out in 34 minutes.
TWO DOWN
Celtics’ fouling: The Pacers tripled the Celtics up in free throw attempts in the first half (21-7) thanks to a barrage of C’s fouls over the first 24 minutes, including 10 in the second quarter alone. Boston’s bigs faced some tough whistles (Theis in particular) but ill-advised fouls in the transition, while the team was in the penalty, contributed to easy points for the Pacers. Indy finished the night with a 36-22 edge at the free-throw line.
Boston’s second unit: The Pacers bench outscored the C’s by a whopping 47-19 margin, with Aaron Holiday erupting for 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and a plus-29 on the night. For a unit that prides itself on defense, they didn’t bring much to the table on that front Wednesday night.
TOP PLAY
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 12, 2019
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
The Celtics missed a valuable chance at their first signature road win: Even though Boston still has a winning record on the road (7-6) they have still failed to beat anyone away from the TD Garden with an above .500 record (0-5). Wednesday night was probably their best chance to get over the hump on that front to this point, entering the final frame with a double-digit lead. Some questionable rotation choices (Javonte Green to start the fourth quarter?) along with some sloppy defense and tough whistles produced probably the ugliest fourth quarter of the year for this group since opening night. Winning against elite teams on the road in the East (Pacers are 10-3 at home) is far from easy but at some point, the C’s are going to need to show some strong resolve in these moments in hostile environments. Some variables outside of their control (injuries, refs) worked against them tonight but wasting 44 points from Walker hurts as this was a game they let slip away. A couple more tough road tests (Toronto, Dallas) loom later this month to help break this streak.
Marcus Smart probably hated to watch this defensive performance: The defensive-minded guard missed his second straight game with an eye infection in this one and proceeded to see a mediocre Pacers offense (17th in league) light up Boston’s defense for three-quarters of 30-plus points. Smart’s defense was clearly missed as Indy’s guards had a field day with open looks and the C’s suffered from plenty of miscommunications and blown assignments in the midst of giving up their second-most points in a game this year, along with the most free throws allowed (36). Without Smart, the C’s looked like an offense-first team for most of the night and that’s not this team’s best path to victory, especially on the road. His value has been clear to this team for years but we got a reminder tonight of how much his communication/instincts on the floor are missed.