BOSTON — Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers with a stellar performance, scoring 31 points and helping the team bounce back after suffering a significant 37-point defeat against the Boston Celtics just two nights prior. In a gripping rematch on Sunday night, the Pacers edged out the Celtics, winning 123-114.
In addition to Haliburton’s standout contribution, Andrew Nembhard made a strong return after sitting out Friday’s game due to left knee tendinitis, adding 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Pascal Siakam also contributed 17 points while Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 points, reinforcing the Pacers’ offensive efforts.
The Celtics were led in scoring by Jaylen Brown, who also posted six assists along with his 31 points. Jayson Tatum contributed significantly with 22 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Payton Pritchard and Derrick White added 21 and 17 points, respectively. However, this game marked the Celtics’ sixth home loss of the season, a stark contrast to their impressive home record of 37-4 during the previous regular season and 9-2 in the playoffs, which ultimately led them to an NBA championship.
Looking back at the game, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need for his team to respond physically after the lopsided defeat. Instead of relying on jump shots, the Pacers focused on attacking the paint, successfully outscoring Boston 66-48 in that area, even in the absence of injured forward Obi Toppin, who is dealing with a sprained left ankle.
In contrast, the Celtics, who previously dominated a game on Friday with 23 three-pointers, struggled significantly against the Pacers’ defense. They only managed to connect on 16 of 54 attempts from three-point range while missing key players Jrue Holiday (shoulder injury) and Kristaps Porzingis (sprained left ankle).
A pivotal moment occurred when the Celtics managed to narrow an 11-point deficit to just 105-103 following a three-point play by Tatum with 7:38 remaining. However, the Pacers quickly regained control by scoring 13 consecutive points in a span of nearly two minutes.
Another noteworthy statistic was the number of free throws made, with Indiana hitting 22 compared to Boston’s 16.
Looking ahead, the Pacers are slated to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday afternoon, while the Celtics will be at home facing the Toronto Raptors on the same day.
