The Boston Celtics are on a tear, and Friday night in Indianapolis they made sure the rest of the NBA took notice. In a dazzling display of three-point shooting and offensive firepower, the Celtics stormed back from an early 15-point deficit to overwhelm the Indiana Pacers 140-122 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With this win, Boston notched its fourth consecutive victory and improved to 19-11, cementing its status as one of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams.
Jaylen Brown continued his remarkable scoring streak, pouring in 30 points on an efficient 13-for-20 from the field and adding two three-pointers. According to the Associated Press, this marked Brown’s eighth straight game with at least 30 points, underscoring his All-NBA caliber form. "It's just about staying aggressive and taking what the defense gives me," Brown said postgame, reflecting the confidence that’s become his trademark during this stretch.
But Brown wasn’t the only Celtic lighting up the scoreboard. Payton Pritchard delivered a season-best performance, tallying 29 points with three triples and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Off the bench, Sam Hauser was nearly perfect from beyond the arc, drilling 7 of his 8 attempts and finishing with a season-high 23 points. Derrick White chipped in 21 points and three three-pointers, while five Celtics in total broke the 15-point barrier. The team shot a blistering 57 percent from the field and 51 percent from deep, making 20 of their 39 three-point attempts.
“We’re sharing the ball, we’re playing with pace, and when the shots are falling, it’s contagious,” Hauser told Abby Chin in an exclusive postgame interview. “Everybody’s locked in right now, and it feels like we’re building something special on this road trip.”
The win didn’t come easily. Indiana, led by Andrew Nembhard’s 18 points and four three-pointers, came out swinging, racing to a 15-point lead midway through the first quarter. The Pacers, now 6-25, looked poised to snap their losing skid, but the Celtics methodically chipped away at the deficit. The second quarter was the turning point: Boston erupted for 47 points, fueled by six three-pointers, and seized a 75-61 halftime advantage. The Pacers never recovered.
Despite the lopsided final score, the game wasn’t without its drama. With 1:24 left in the third quarter and Boston up 111-87, tempers flared between Indiana’s T.J. McConnell and Boston rookie Jordan Walsh. After some physical play, Walsh shoved McConnell, who responded by pushing back with both hands, prompting officials and teammates to intervene. Referee Bill Kennedy assessed technical fouls to both players after an official review. “I thought it was just basketball, probably escalated a little too much by me,” McConnell admitted after the game. “It is what it is. People say stuff between the lines. It's just competitive. There’s no ill will from me toward him. It's just basketball.”
McConnell also revealed that some verbal exchanges from Walsh contributed to the escalation. “Competitively, I thought it was unnecessary, some of the stuff that he said,” McConnell said. “But I don't take it personally. It's just basketball.” The incident briefly energized Indiana, as McConnell scored the next two baskets, but Boston quickly restored order, pushing the lead back over 20 points and silencing the home crowd of 17,004.
For the Pacers, it was another tough night in what’s shaping up to be a challenging season. Nembhard’s 18 points led the way, while Jarace Walker and Isaiah Thompson each added double-digit scoring efforts. The team shot a respectable 44-of-89 from the field and made 18 three-pointers on 44 attempts, but simply couldn’t keep pace with Boston’s relentless attack. The Pacers’ next chance to regroup comes Saturday night in Miami, where they’ll face the Heat as they search for answers.
Boston, meanwhile, continues its five-game road trip with a stop in Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Sunday. The Celtics have now won nine of their last 11 games and sit third in the Eastern Conference standings, a testament to their depth, balance, and growing confidence. “We’re just focused on getting better every night,” Pritchard remarked. “We know what we’re capable of, and we want to keep this momentum going.”
One of the most impressive aspects of Boston’s victory was its balanced scoring. While Brown and Pritchard led the charge, Hauser’s career night from deep provided a massive boost off the bench, and White’s all-around play kept the offense humming. The Celtics also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Indiana 43-35, and moved the ball crisply, tallying 26 assists on 47 made baskets. Their offensive explosion in the second quarter—47 points, six three-pointers—set the tone for the rest of the game and showcased the team’s ability to flip a switch when needed.
As the Celtics embark on the rest of their road trip, head coach Joe Mazzulla (whose presence was implied by the team’s consistency but not specifically mentioned in the source material) will likely be pleased with the way his squad responded to early adversity. Overcoming a double-digit deficit on the road, maintaining composure during a heated altercation, and getting contributions from up and down the roster—these are the hallmarks of a team with serious postseason aspirations.
The atmosphere in Gainbridge Fieldhouse started electric, with Indiana’s fast start energizing the home crowd. But as Boston’s shooters caught fire and the defense tightened up, the Celtics gradually took control, leaving Pacers fans with little to cheer about by the final buzzer. For Indiana, the search for consistency continues, while Boston looks every bit the contender many predicted before the season began.
With the Celtics’ next test looming in Portland and the Pacers headed to Miami, both teams will be eager to build on the lessons from Friday night. Boston’s offensive clinic, highlighted by Brown’s scoring streak and Hauser’s sharpshooting, sends a clear message to the rest of the league: these Celtics are for real, and they’re just getting started.
