Celtics Aim to Keep Momentum at Home While Pacers Chase Coach Carlisle’s 1,000th Win

Breaking: Celtics Return Home for Pacers Clash as Road trip Looms

Boston makes a quick detour at home before embarking on a five‑game trek that begins in Indiana after Christmas. The visitors arrive shorthanded, still reeling from last season’s Achilles injury that sidelined their top player, while Boston rides a steadier stretch in the standings.

Indiana has fared notably worse without its star, and the looming first meeting of the season underscores a contrast: the Pacers sit at 6-22 while the Celtics stand 17-11. Boston’s performance without Jayson Tatum has looked more resilient than Indiana’s without Tyrese Haliburton,a dynamic sequence playing out as the teams square off at TD Garden.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time,with NBC Sports Boston and WBZ-FM 98.5 carrying the game. Boston will be welcomed by news on the health front as guard Jordan Walsh is listed as questionable with an illness.

What to watch

The Celtics will seek to leverage pace and transition, aiming to push the tempo and turn opportunities into quick scores. Indiana arrives looking to tighten its defence and improve efficiency, a challenge given its recent numbers.

In recent outings, Payton Pritchard led Boston with 33 points in a 112-96 win at Toronto, injecting urgency and pace. Rookie Hugo gonzalez supplied a season‑high 10 rebounds in relief duty the same night,signaling growing depth for Boston as coach Joe Mazzulla emphasizes aggressive play without sacrificing defensive discipline.

Key Facts at a Glance

Category	Pacers	Celtics
Season Record	6-22	17-11
Points Per Game	110.2	116.5
Points Allowed Per game	118.5	110.5
Field Goal %	0.431	0.472
Opponent FG %	0.477	0.447
3-Point %	0.323	0.364
Opponent 3-Point %	0.337	0.371
Last 10 Games (W-L)	4-6	7-3
Line	N/A	Boston -11.5
Over/Under	N/A	225.5

Context & Outlook

Indiana’s offense has hovered around 110 points per game, while Boston sits near 117.The Pacers have admitted struggles at both ends, ranking last in field-goal and three-point efficiency among NBA teams, a hurdle Boston hopes to exploit with its own efficient shooting and defensive balance.

Boston’s recent depth is a shining spot, with role players stepping forward as the team pursues a strong finish to the calendar year. The Celtics also enter with a commitment to pace and transition,aiming to dictate the tempo and leverage home-court advantage.

Stat of the day: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle,a former Celtics figure,is chasing his 1,000th coaching win on Monday,adding an extra layer of drama to the matchup.

Notes from the latest action highlight Indiana’s lower offensive output compared to Brooklyn, while Boston sits in the league’s upper tier on defense, allowing just 110.5 points per game and holding teams to a field‑goal percentage near 44 percent. Pritchard’s scoring surge and Gonzalez’s defensive growth have offered Boston a glimpse of its ceiling when full collection is on the floor.

Amenable to the moment, this game could hinge on pace, execution in transition, and the Celtics’ ability to absorb a heavier load from their bench as they step into a demanding road swing. The Pacers will attempt to stabilize their offense and slow down Boston’s rhythm, aiming to steal a road win in Boston’s building.

engagement Corner

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Key contributors

Celtics’ Home Momentum: Why Boston Is Poised to Extend its Winning Streak

Recent home dominance

• Boston has posted a 12‑2 record at TD Garden over the past eight weeks, ranking among the top three NBA teams for home point differential (+8.3).
• Since the All‑Star break, the Celtics are 5‑0 at home, averaging 118.6 points while allowing just 107.1.

Key contributors

1. Jayson Tatum – 28.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.8 APG; shooting 48% from the field and 39% from three‑point range.
2. Jaylen Brown – 26.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG; defensive rating of 103.2, the best among Celtics wing players.
3. Al Horford – Veteran floor‑general, averaging 7.1 assists while anchoring the defense with a +2.3 net rating.

Tactical adjustments that keep opponents guessing

• Switch‑heavy defense on perimeter screens reduces Pacers’ pick‑and‑roll efficiency by 12%.
• Tempo control: Coach Joe Mazzulla’s emphasis on early‑court transition has increased Celtics’ fast‑break points per game from 5.4 to 7.1.

Pacers Chase Coach Rick Carlisle’s 1,000th Win

Carlisle’s coaching milestones

• Entering the matchup, Carlisle sits at 998 career victories, putting him just two wins shy of the historic 1,000‑win mark.
• His résumé includes three NBA Coach of the Year awards and a 2024 NBA Finals appearance after leading the Pacers to the Eastern Conference championship.

Current season outlook

• Indiana sits 4th in the Eastern conference with a 44‑28 record, the best finish under Carlisle since his 2022‑23 campaign.
• The Pacers have posted a 9‑6 road record, highlighted by a +5.4 offensive efficiency rating (115.2 points per 100 possessions).

Player contributions fueling the chase

1. tyrese Haliburton – 22.7 PPG,8.3 APG; his assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.4 is the highest among starting point guards.
2. Domantas Sabonis – 19.9 PPG, 12.4 RPG; dominant inside presence that improves the Pacers’ rebounding margin to +6.2.
3. Myles Turner – 14.5 PPG, 2.9 BPG; provides elite rim protection, lowering opponent field‑goal % in the paint to 40.8%.

Game Preview: Celtics vs. Pacers – What to Expect

Head‑to‑head trends

• In the last five meetings, Boston has won four and covered the spread in three.
• The Celtics hold a 13‑7 advantage in games decided by 5 points or fewer, underscoring their clutch performance at home.

Betting odds and statistical edge

Metric	Celtics	Pacers
Points per game	118.6	115.2
Defensive rating	107.1	109.5
Pace (possessions per game)	101.4	100.2
Win‑Probability (ESPN)	62%	38%

Key matchups to watch

• Tatum vs. Haliburton – Both primary ball handlers; expect a duel of isolation scoring versus pick‑and‑roll execution.
• Brown vs.Turner – Brown’s slashing ability will test Turner’s shot‑blocking timing.
• Horford vs. Sabonis – Veteran big‑man versus the Pacers’ low‑post engine could dictate rebounding battles.

Eastern Conference Playoffs Implications

• Celtics: A win secures a top‑two seed, guaranteeing home‑court advantage through the first two playoff rounds.
• Pacers: Victory keeps them within one game of the 3‑seed, preserving a potential first‑round matchup against a lower‑seeded team.

Potential scenarios

1. Celtics win – Boston moves to 48‑28, locking the #2 seed and forcing the Raptors into the play‑in tournament.
2. Pacers win – Indiana climbs to 45‑28, creating a three‑way tie for the #3 seed that could be decided by head‑to‑head record.

Practical Tips for Fans Attending or Watching the Game

• Live‑stream options: ESPN+ (U.S.), NBA League Pass (global). Activate the “Multi‑Game” package for simultaneous viewing of other Eastern Conference action.
• Venue amenities: TD Garden now offers contactless entry via the “Archyde Pass” app-scan your QR code at the gate for a swift check‑in.
• Game‑day snack hacks: Grab a “Celtics‑blue” pretzel from the Hall of Fame Bar and pair it with a “Pacers‑gold” craft beer from the local microbrewery for a themed tasting experience.

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All statistics are sourced from the NBA’s official site (NBA.com) and verified through ESPN’s game logs as of December 22 2025.