BOSTON — In a commanding performance, Jaylen Brown delivered a season-high 44 points, hitting six 3-pointers, as the Boston Celtics decisively overcame the Indiana Pacers with a score of 142-105 on Friday night.
Jayson Tatum contributed significantly with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Boston showcased their shooting prowess by landing 23 shots from beyond the arc without ever trailing in the game. Additionally, Brown’s defensive efforts included four steals, placing him alongside Celtics legends Larry Bird and Antoine Walker as one of the few players to achieve at least 44 points and four steals in a single match.
Payton Pritchard also made a notable impact, recording 18 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds throughout the contest.
The loss marked the second consecutive defeat for the Pacers, who were coming off a season-high five-game winning streak. Their offense was led by Tyrese Haliburton with 19 points and nine assists, while Bennedict Mathurin contributed 18 points, and Pascal Siakam added 14 points along with nine rebounds.
Observations from the Game: The Pacers faced challenges in their performance largely due to the absence of Obi Toppin, who is dealing with a sprained left ankle, and Andrew Nembhard, who is sidelined with tendinitis in his left knee.
For the Celtics, this game marked a critical bounce-back as they avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the season. Their dominance extended to both offense and defense, recording nine steals and limiting the Pacers to a mere 28% shooting from three-point range. Boston achieved this formidable success even without key starters Kristaps Porzingis, who is nursing a sprained left ankle, and Jrue Holiday, absent for the second consecutive game due to a shoulder injury.
A pivotal moment occurred late in the second quarter when Al Horford drained consecutive 3-pointers, helping the Celtics amplify their lead to 67-35 during a decisive 13-0 run. They later extended their advantage to as much as 38 points in the fourth quarter.
Noteworthy is that this game marked the 11th occasion in which Brown has scored 40 or more points in his career.
Looking ahead, the Celtics and Pacers are set to face each other again on Sunday for their final encounter of the season.