Indiana PacersOpen full analysis
Boston CelticsOpen full analysis
The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 103–95 on December 22 at TD Garden, holding their guests to just 13 points in the fourth quarter to secure a defensive grind below the 225.5 Vegas total line. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 31 points while Derrick White added 19, anchoring a Celtics attack that shot 42.7 percent from the field and connected on 11 three-pointers across 49 rebounds and 19 assists. Indiana's Pascal Siakam (25 points) and Andrew Nembhard (20 points) kept the Pacers competitive early, with the visitors scoring 35 in the first quarter, but Boston's third-quarter surge—31 points—proved decisive. The Celtics' defensive rating of 99.0 clamped down systematically, while Indiana's 38.8 percent shooting and 13 turnovers proved costly in a low-scoring affair. Boston's balanced ball movement (19 assists) and six steals and blocks each showcased defensive versatility against an Indiana team that made 13 threes but couldn't generate enough offensive consistency. The result strengthens Boston's positioning as the Celtics continue their push through the Eastern Conference standings.
