On a frigid Friday night in Indianapolis, the Boston Celtics stormed back from an early deficit to overpower the Indiana Pacers 140-122 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, notching their fourth straight win and kicking off a crucial five-game road trip in style. The Celtics, now 19-11 and sitting third in the Eastern Conference, showcased a dazzling display of three-point shooting and relentless offense, while the Pacers, mired in a frustrating seven-game skid, dropped to a league-worst 6-25.
Things started brightly for the home team, as the Pacers came out firing on all cylinders. Indiana made their first six three-point attempts and built a 15-point lead midway through the first quarter, riding a wave of energy from the Gainbridge crowd. By the end of the opening frame, the Pacers led 39-28, marking their highest-scoring first quarter of the season. Andrew Nembhard, who would finish with a team-high 18 points and four three-pointers, orchestrated the early surge, while Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell chipped in 13 points apiece.
But Boston, notorious for their resilience, didn’t blink. The Celtics methodically chipped away at Indiana’s advantage, then unleashed a historic second-quarter barrage that completely flipped the script. In a span of 12 breathtaking minutes, Boston poured in 47 points—the most allowed by the Pacers in a single quarter all season—while connecting on six three-pointers. The visitors shot a blistering 64 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep during the period, outscoring Indiana 47-22 and seizing a commanding 75-61 halftime lead.
“We just stayed with it,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said after the game. “Once we started moving the ball and getting stops, the game opened up for us. Guys stepped up and hit big shots.”
Brown once again led the charge for Boston, tallying 30 points on an efficient 13-of-20 shooting, including two of three from beyond the arc. It was his eighth consecutive game with at least 30 points, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most dynamic scorers. Brown also contributed four assists, four steals, and three rebounds, and the Celtics were a staggering +19 with him on the floor.
Payton Pritchard provided a major spark as well, racking up 29 points, nine rebounds, and five assists while knocking down three triples. The Celtics’ bench was equally lethal, with Sam Hauser erupting for a season-high 23 points in just 16 minutes, fueled by a red-hot 7-of-8 performance from three-point range. Hauser’s sharpshooting—he made his first seven attempts before finally missing—helped Boston turn an early deficit into a rout. Derrick White added 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds, draining three threes of his own. Luka Garza chipped in 15 points, helping the Celtics put five players in double figures.
Boston’s overall shooting numbers were eye-popping: 57 percent from the field, 51 percent from deep (20-of-39), and 1.40 points per possession. The Celtics’ 20 made threes outpaced Indiana’s 18-of-44 effort from long range and underscored the visitors’ offensive firepower. As Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla put it, “When we share the ball and shoot with confidence, we’re tough to beat.”
The Pacers, for their part, showed flashes of fight, particularly in the opening quarter and again when T.J. McConnell ignited the crowd in the second half. The veteran guard, known for his gritty play, got tangled up with Boston’s Jordan Walsh in a heated exchange that resulted in double technicals. McConnell channeled that energy into back-to-back layups, finishing the night with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting—his third straight game in double figures. Over his last six games, McConnell has shot an impressive 71.7 percent from the floor.
Despite Indiana’s hot start and occasional bursts of momentum, Boston’s offensive avalanche proved too much. The Celtics’ second-quarter run tied their biggest margin ever in a second quarter in franchise history, according to NBC Sports Boston. After erasing the Pacers’ early 11-point lead, Boston never let Indiana get closer than double digits the rest of the way. The Pacers’ defense simply had no answer for the Celtics’ ball movement and perimeter shooting, as Boston scored 36 points in the third quarter on 13-of-18 shooting, including six more threes.
“That second quarter just got away from us,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle admitted. “They hit some tough shots, but we also let them get too comfortable. We have to be better closing out on shooters and communicating on defense.”
While the Celtics celebrated another win and a sweep of the home-and-home series with Indiana, the Pacers were left searching for solutions. Their seventh consecutive loss leaves them with the NBA’s worst record, and the defensive woes that have plagued them all season were on full display. Still, young players like Nembhard, Mathurin, and McConnell continue to show development, offering hope for brighter days ahead.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will continue their road swing with a Sunday matinee against the Portland Trail Blazers, aiming to extend their winning streak and solidify their hold on the No. 3 seed in the East. With four more sub-.500 opponents looming, Boston is well-positioned to climb even higher in the standings if they can maintain their current level of play.
For Indiana, the schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they travel to Miami to face the Heat on Saturday. The Pacers’ young core will need to regroup quickly and find a way to snap their losing streak if they hope to change the narrative of a frustrating season.
As the final buzzer sounded in Indianapolis, it was clear: the Celtics’ blend of star power, depth, and long-range shooting makes them a force to be reckoned with. The Pacers, meanwhile, are left to regroup and search for answers as a challenging campaign rolls on.
