Wins have not come easy for the Boston Celtics in the past two weeks and the same rang true on Tuesday night in Indiana. The visitors surrendered a 21-2 run midway through the fourth quarter, blowing a 17-point lead in the process before recovering in the final two minutes to hold on for a 114-111 win. Jayson Tatum led the way with 30 points while Gordon Hayward pitched in with 27 points and 10 rebounds for a Boston starting five that had five players finish in double figures.
Victor Oladipo had a team-high 27 points for the hosts, scoring nearly half of them in the fourth quarter comeback for the Pacers before big baskets from Daniel Theis (20 points), Marcus Smart (16 points) and Tatum down the stretch enabled the C's to rally from a three-point deficit in the final two minutes.
The victory pulled Boston within three games of the No. 2 seed with a trip to Milwaukee looming on Thursday.
WHO: Celtics (42-21) vs. Pacers (38-25)
WHEN: 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bankers Life Field House
RADIO: 105.7 WROR
TV: NBC Sports Boston
Celtics
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Gordon Hayward
C: Daniel Theis
Pacers
G: Aaron Holiday
G: Victor Oladipo
F: TJ Warren
F: Myles Turner
C: Domantas Sabonis
Pregame Notes
- Jaylen Brown remains out for the fourth straight game with a hamstring strain. The Celtics are 1-2 without him since losing him last week. Brad Stevens says it is possible he will return on Thursday against the Bucks but he doubts it.
- Kemba Walker's left knee continues to feel good as his minutes limit is ramped up a bit. He has a strict cap on it for 32 minutes in his fourth game back.
- The Pacers will be without a pair of key shooters in Malcolm Brogdon (back) and Doug McDermott (toe). They have won four of their last five games overall, helping them pull back into No. 5 in the postseason race.
- The Celtics have split the season series with Indy so far, losing their only other visit to Bankers Life Fieldhouse two months back.