Matchup
After a disappointing loss on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, the Pacers (32-42) head to Boston on Wednesday in desperate need of a win to remain relevant in the playoff picture.
The Celtics (33-41) are currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of Indiana. Boston leads the season series with the Pacers, 2-1. If the Blue & Gold can pull out a win on Wednesday, they would move into a tie with the Celtics. But if the Celtics win, they would be two games ahead of the Pacers in the standings and own the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning Indiana would effectively have to make up three games on Boston over the final seven games of the season.
If they want to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, the Pacers need to pass the Celtics and one other team (Brooklyn or Miami) over the last two weeks of the regular season. Pacers head coach Frank Vogel has said time and again that his team will approach this stretch one game at a time, and no game this season has been more crucial than Wednesday's meeting with the Celtics.
Unfortunately, the Pacers may be shorthanded in Boston. Starting shooting guard C.J. Miles sprained his ankle very early into Tuesday's loss in Brooklyn and was able to play just 6:23. Miles had been red hot before Tuesday, totaling 54 points and going 9-for-14 from 3-point range in his previous two games. Sixth man and second-leading scorer Rodney Stuckey played against the Nets, but was hampered by a wrist injury he suffered in Sunday's win over the Mavericks. Stuckey scored just four points on 1-of-8 shooting in 25:26 in Brooklyn.
The Celtics have been buoyed by the addition of dynamic point guard Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline. The 5-foot-9 guard topped 20 points in eight of his first 10 games in Boston before being sidelined by a bruised back. After sitting out eight games (including the Celtics' 93-89 win in Indianapolis on March 14), Thomas has played in the Celtics' last four games, averaging 15.7 points and 6.7 assists off the bench over his last three contests.
Projected Starters
George Hill
C.J. Miles
Solomon Hill
David West
Roy Hibbert
Marcus Smart
Avery Bradley
Evan Turner
Brandon Bass
Tyler Zeller
Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Solomon Hill, PF - David West, C - Roy Hibbert
Celtics: PG - Marcus Smart, SG - Avery Bradley, SF - Evan Turner, PF - Brandon Bass, C - Tyler Zeller
Injury Report
Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation for broken right leg), C.J. Miles - questionable (sprained right ankle), Rodney Stuckey - questionable (sore right wrist)
Celtics: Jared Sullinger - out (left metatarsal stress fracture)
Last Meeting
March 14, 2015: Boston snapped Indiana's six-game winning streak, defeating the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 93-89. The Celtics held the Pacers to 40 percent shooting and forced them into 17 turnovers on the night.
George Hill led the Pacers with a season-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting and also dished out eight assists. C.J. Miles added 13 points in the loss.
Tyler Zeller led four Celtics players in double figures with 18 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Bass, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder each contributed 16 points for Boston.
Noteworthy
- The Celtics lead the all-time series with Indiana 88-73 and are 51-23 against the Pacers in Boston.
- Pacers guard C.J. Watson needs two rebounds to reach 1,000 for his career.
- Indiana is 5-11 this season when playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »
TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)