The Indiana Pacers dominated the Boston Celtics in a 123-114 victory on Friday, maintaining control from start to finish. Despite a quick turnaround from their previous matchup two days earlier, the Pacers showed no signs of fatigue. Andrew Nembhard, who missed the earlier game, returned and made an immediate impact, while Tyrese Haliburton also torched the Celtics, finishing with 31 points. Haliburton’s ability to drive into the paint and either score or find open teammates was a key factor in the Pacers scoring 66 points in the paint.
The Pacers answered every Celtics’ run with one of their own, and a decisive 13-0 stretch in the final quarter sealed the win. Indiana’s fast start set the tone, hitting their first three shots, while the Celtics struggled early, missing their first three attempts. The Pacers’ offensive efficiency continued, as 16 of their first 18 points came from inside the paint, while Boston struggled to contain their perimeter players.
Tyrese Haliburton and Jarace Walker‘s back-to-back three-pointers gave Indiana a six-point lead in the second quarter, and despite Payton Pritchard’s hot hand, the Pacers went into halftime with a 65-58 lead. In the second half, Boston tried to mount a comeback with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum leading the charge, but Indiana’s inside dominance and timely responses to Boston’s runs kept them ahead.
In the final quarter, after a brief Celtics run, Indiana’s Ben Sheppard hit key shots, including a three-pointer and a layup, pushing the lead to double digits. A dunk by Myles Turner and a 13-0 run put the game out of reach, and the Pacers secured the win. The Celtics will now look to rebound against the Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve.
