2018-19 Game Preview

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Nothing is impossible, but the odds are certainly stacked up against the Pacers as they enter Sunday's Game 4 in a 3-0 hole to the Boston Celtics.

But with pride on the line, the Pacers will look to begin the climb against the Celtics in a series that has been closer than the 3-0 deficit shows.

The Pacers have had the lead during the second half in each of the three games, but in all three, a familiar foe has tormented Indiana: offensive droughts.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow the Pacers' Postseason Run »

During Game 1, an eight-point third quarter quickly wiped away a halftime lead. In Game 2, the Pacers were outscored 31-12 in the fourth frame, erasing what was a double-digit advantage. And in Game 3 on Friday, the third quarter again proved problematic, with the Pacers posting just 12 points as Boston gained control of the game.

"We just go on droughts where we are not making shots," said Thaddeus Young. "Shots are rattling in and out and we're not getting good looks that are within our offense."

Offensively, the Pacers got an impressive performance from Tyreke Evans, who nearly lifted the team to victory with a 19-point performance off of the bench, drilling 4-of-6 3-pointers.

Evans led the team in scoring in what was a balanced effort for the Pacers, who had seven players — including all five starters — reach double figures.

But the balance was not enough to overcome yet another incredible performance by Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving, who followed up his 37-point Game 2 with a 19-point, 10-assist showing in Game 3.

History says the Pacers' chances of overcoming the 3-0 deficit aren't good. In NBA history, no team has ever managed to come back and win a series after trailing 3-0 (0-132). But those numbers don't matter to the Pacers, who are approaching Game 4 as if it were Game 1.

"There definitely won't be any quit in us," said Darren Collison. "We feel like it is still a series. I know it sounds foolish from outside looking in, being down 3-0, but from a mental standpoint in this locker room there won't be any quit."

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Wesley Matthews, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCeltics: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - Jaylen Brown, SF - Jayson Tatum, PF - Aron Baynes, C - Al Horford

Pacers: Victor Oladipo - out (right knee surgery)

Celtics: Marcus Smart - out (left oblique tear)

April 19, 2019: Indiana once again showed it could hang with Boston, but endured another second-half shooting slump and came up short in a 104-96 loss at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

With the win, the Celtics took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

"It's our end-of-game execution, that's all it comes down to," Pacers center Myles Turner said. "We're playing good enough defense to win, but we've got to score."

Tyreke Evans led Indiana with 19 points off the bench in the loss — 15 of them coming in the first half — while Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the loss.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 23 points, going 8-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range. All-Star guard Kyrie Irving added 19 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds for Boston.

The Pacers aim to keep the series alive as they fight off elimination from Kyrie Irving and the Celtics in Game 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 21 at 1:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: ABC - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Hubie Brown (analyst), Israel Gutierrez (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Game 4 is a Gold Out! Everyone in attendance will receive a gold T-shirt to wear while they support the Pacers.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics (Game 4)

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers return home to Indianapolis frustrated after dropping two winnable games in Boston to open their first-round playoff series. In each loss, Indiana's offense went cold for an entire quarter, allowing the Celtics to eke out two victories and retain homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven series.

In Game 1, the Pacers had an abysmal third quarter, scoring just eight points in the frame on 2-of-19 shooting. In Game 2 on Wednesday, they actually racked up 29 points in the third to build an 11-point lead, only for the offense to go cold in the fourth.

After Tyreke Evans' 3-pointer with 11:20 remaining pushed the lead to 12, Indiana didn't score for the next 7:56, opening the door for Boston to reel off 16 unanswered points. Indiana eventually retook the lead after back-to-back threes by Bojan Bogdanovic, only for the Celtics to close the game on a 10-0 run and secure a 99-91 win.

The Pacers were outscored 31-12 in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. Surprisingly, all 12 of their points came on 3-point field goals, as they went 0-for-9 from inside the arc and 0-for-2 from the free throw line in the fateful period.

"Everybody's just got to stay confident, continue to be aggressive," Pacers point guard Darren Collison said after the loss. "We like the looks we're getting."

One player who is particularly struggling to find a rhythm offensively so far in the series is sixth man Domantas Sabonis. The 22-year-old center averaged 14.1 points per game and collected a team-high 30 double-doubles during the regular season, but has not been nearly as productive against Boston.

Sabonis had seven points on 3-of-9 shooting in Game 1 and then attempted just one shot in 22 minutes in Game 2, finishing with just one point (though he did tally five rebounds, five assists, and two steals). The Celtics are clearly scheming to limit Sabonis' production, meaning Pacers coach Nate McMillan will need to figure out some adjustments to get his big man more involved.

The Pacers met the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, between 2002-03 and 2005-06. The Pacers won two out of three of those meetings.

April 17, 2019: The Pacers took a 79-68 lead into the fourth quarter of Game 2, but Boston outscored the Blue & Gold 31-12 over the final 12 minutes to earn a 99-91 win.

Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 37 points, going 16-for-25 from the field and 6-for-10 from 3-point range while also tallying six rebounds and seven assists.

"When they put the ball in that guy's hands, he makes things happen," Thaddeus Young said. "He made some tough shots and I think that was the ending factor for us."

Bojan Bogdanovic led Indiana with 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals in the loss. Young added 15 points, six boards, three assists, and three steals.

The series shifts to Indianapolis as the Pacers host the Celtics for Game 3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday, April 19 at 8:30 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Hubie Brown (analyst), Israel Gutierrez (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics (Game 3)

In the postgame locker room following their Game 1 loss to the Celtics, the Pacers' message as a team was loud and clear: stay the course.

Despite suffering their worst offensive game of the season in the 84-74 defeat on Sunday afternoon, the Pacers believe they executed their gameplan well enough to win, but missing open looks made the difference in the 10-point loss.

"We just missed shots," said point guard Darren Collison. "Had some frustrations, fouls, miscues, but I feel in good shape about where we're at right now. If you look at the shots we missed,they were good shots. If those shots fall Game 2, we're talking a different game."

Defensively, the Pacers held Boston to its lowest point total of the season, limiting the Celtics to just 36.4 percent shooting. But transition defense remained an issue for the Pacers as the Celtics outscored Indiana 24-14 on the fastbreak.

With two full days between games, the Pacers will go back to the drawing board to find ways to jumpstart the offense.

One area they'll surely focus on is finding ways for Bojan Bogdanovic to get open looks. Indiana's leading scorer was held without a 3-pointer and finished with 12 points on Sunday, as the Celtics didn't let the sharpshooter leave their sight.

Wednesday's clash with Boston gives the Pacers another shot at stealing homecourt advantage from the fourth-seeded Celtics before the series shifts back to Indiana for Games 3 and 4.

"It’s going to come down to who executes. Who takes care of the ball. Who keeps their confidence up," said Doug McDermott. "We’ll do our best to get a good couple of nights of prep, and get ready for these guys on Wednesday.”

Celtics: Marcus Smart - out (left oblique tear), Al Horford - questionable (illness)

April 14, 2019: The Pacers' offense couldn't find its footing in the second half en route to an 84-74 Game 1 loss to the Celtics in Boston.

In total, Indiana scored just 29 combined in the third and fourth quarters, and though the defense was able to hold the Celtics in check, it wasn't enough to overcome the prolonged offensive draught in the second half.

"We just didn't make enough shots," Pacers forward Thaddeus Young said of the third. "We were getting wide open looks and they were rattling in-and-out or they were just missed shots."

The Pacers led by seven at halftime, but Boston outscored the Pacers 26-8 in the third quarter, taking the lead and comfortably holding onto it for the rest of the afternoon.

"We handled them pretty well in the first half, so it was their turn to make adjustments," said Darren Collison. "They did that, so we'll go back to the drawing board ourselves, and we'll come back."

After opening the series in Boston, the Pacers will return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to face the Celtics in Games 3 and 4 of the first-round series. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
TNT - Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Rebecca Haarlow (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics (Game 2)

The Pacers enter the postseason looking to showcase the grit that carried them to a 48-win season.

Despite losing All-Star Victor Oladipo to season-ending knee surgery in January, the Pacers (48-34) have remained a tightly tethered unit, wrapping up their regular season with a win over the Hawks on Wednesday.

But the competition level gets steeper come Sunday afternoon, when the Pacers will tip-off their first-round series against Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics (49-33) at TD Garden for Game 1.

The Pacers enter the matchup at full health aside from Oladipo and are aiming to correct the flaws that led to dropping three of the four contests versus Boston during the regular season.

Indiana will likely lean heavily on the offense of Bojan Bogdanovic, who finished as Indiana's leading scorer with 18 points per game.

The series could easily be decided on the defensive side of the ball, where Indiana ranks among the NBA's best units, allowing just 105.9 points per 100 possessions (3rd lowest in NBA).

But during the regular season matchups with the Celtics, the Pacers were unable to slow Boston's transition attacks, allowing 26.8 points in transition, the most the Celtics had against any team and the most the Pacers allowed against any opponent, per NBA.com's John Schuhmann.

In the postseason, however, the pace of games tends to slow down, which could allow the Pacers to negate some of Boston's fast-paced attack off of turnovers.

Just as Indiana enters the series without their top perimeter defender in Oladipo, the Celtics will be missing one of the largest pieces of their defense in Marcus Smart. The pugnacious guard who will likely finish the season on an All-Defensive Team suffered a torn oblique muscle in the Celtics' 81st game, leaving Boston without its top defensive cog for the first-round series.

In their most recent matchup with the Pacers, Smart was glued to Bogdanovic, holding Indiana's leading scorer to four points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Without Smart, the Celtics are likely to turn to either Jaylen Brown or Terry Rozier as the starting shooting guard. Brown, now in his third NBA season, has had a difficult season compared to his sophomore campaign, with his 3-point shooting dropping from 39.5 percent to 34.4. Rozier has also suffered a drop-off following last year's run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with his 3-point percentage dipping from 38.1 to 35.3.

Despite Boston's desultory season in which they have underachieved by the standards of preseason expectations, the Celtics enter the postseason as one of the hotter teams in the NBA, winning six of their final eight games, including two against the Pacers.

Over the past three seasons, the Pacers have fared well in Game 1's, winning two of their last three. Even with the solid performances, Indiana has still been unable to escape the opening round and is seeking to advance for the first time since the 2014 Playoffs.

April 5, 2019: In their final meeting of the regular season, the Pacers were unable to slow the sharpshooting Celtics, who scorched the nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse en route to a 117-97 win over Indiana, winning the seasons series 3-1 in the process.

"They won the game. They were more physical, they were faster, they were stronger," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "They pretty much dominated the game."

The Boston victory gave the Celtics an inside track towards the fourth seed in the postseason, as second-year forward Jayson Tatum connected on 9-of-19 shots for 22 points. Coming off the bench, former Butler standout Gordon Hayward was flawless, making all nine of his shots for a 21-point evening.

Myles Turner led the Blue & Gold in scoring with 15 points, with Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans each chipping in 12 off the bench.

"We’re going to put this game behind us as fast as we can, have a good day of practice tomorrow and continue to try and get better," said McDermott, who scored 11 points. "We feel like we can play with anyone in this league."

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Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics (Game 1)

When the Pacers take the floor for their final game of the 2018-19 regular season, it could be a new-look lineup.

Following Indiana's 108-96 loss to the Nets on Sunday, coupled with Boston's loss to Orlando, the Pacers became locked into the fifth seed where they will face the fourth-seeded Celtics.

Due to the matchup being set in stone, the Pacers (47-34) are in a position to give rest to players dealing with bumps and bruises accumulated over the 82-game season when they face the Hawks (29-52).

Bojan Bogdanovic, Thaddeus Young, and Cory Joseph have played all 81 games entering Wednesday's finale, and figure to be likely candidates to rest.

The final stretch of the Pacers' season hasn't gone the way they intended, with losses in nine of their last 12 games. The late-season skid has placed the Pacers at 47 wins, one shy of last year's total.

Atlanta entered the season as a candidate to have one of the NBA's worst records, but strong rookie seasons from Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, as well as an impressive sophomore campaign for forward John Collins has lifted the Hawks to a surprising 29 wins.

While Luka Doncic appears poised to capture Rookie of the Year, Young has averaged 19.1 points, eight assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game this season. During their memorable four-OT game against the Bulls, Young posted an eye-popping box score of 49 points, 16 assists, and eight rebounds.

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Tyreke Evans, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - TJ Leaf, C - Kyle O'QuinnHawks: PG - Trae Young, SG - Kevin Huerter, SF - Taurean Prince, PF - John Collins, C - Alex Len

Pacers: Bojan Bogdanovic - out (sore left hand), Wesley Matthews - out (sore right toe), Victor Oladipo - out (right knee surgery), Domantas Sabonis - out (sore left ankle), Myles Turner - out (sore right ankle), Thaddeus Young - out (sore right hand)

Hawks: Dewayne Dedmon - TBD (left ankle soreness), Miles Plumlee - TBD (cartilage injury), Alex Poythress - TBD (right ankle sprain), Omari Spellman - TBD (left ankle sprain)

December 31, 2018: In their final game of 2018, the Pacers were able to put away the Atlanta Hawks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, winning 116-108.

"We had a good 2018," Pacers coach Nate McMillan said after the win. "We want 2019 to be just as good as 2018 has been to us. We've played some good basketball. One of our goals is to win 10+ games each month."

Victor Oladipo led six Pacers players in double figures on Monday afternoon. The 6-4 guard racked up 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting to go along with four rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.

Rookie Kevin Huerter led the Hawks with a career-best 22 points while going 6-for-9 from 3-point range. John Collins added 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Alex Len finished with 19 points and seven boards.

The Pacers will face Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics in the First Round of the playoffs. Tickets are on sale now! Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Hawks

With homecourt advantage in a likely first-round playoff series on the line on Friday night, Bankers Life Fieldhouse was rocking. For one quarter, the Pacers answered the call, going blow-for-blow with the Celtics and taking a 27-24 lead.

But then, Boston quickly seized control. The Celtics looked like the team many pegged as preseason favorites to win the Eastern Conference, not a team fighting for the fourth seed, as they outscored Indiana 93-70 the rest of the way in a 117-97 win.

Now the Pacers are 47-33, a game back of the Celtics with two games to play. Because Boston has the head-to-head tiebreaker, the only way Indiana can get homecourt advantage is to win both of its remaining games and have the Celtics lose both of theirs.

Otherwise, the Blue & Gold will begin the playoffs on the road next weekend, almost assuredly in Boston (there is still a slim chance that the Celtics could pass Philadelphia, in which case the Pacers would face the 76ers in the first round).

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Pacers' Playoff Push »

For their final home game of the regular season, the Pacers will host the Brooklyn Nets (40-40). Brooklyn is still fighting to get into the playoffs, currently in sixth place and a game and a half up on ninth place Miami, so the Nets will have plenty to play for on Sunday night.

For the Pacers, head coach Nate McMillan now faces a conundrum. With slim chance of improving their seed, is it better for the Pacers to rest their players ahead of the playoffs or continue to compete for an outside chance at homecourt advantage?

There could be some consideration to the importance of bouncing back after Friday's disappointment. A win in the home finale over a hungry Brooklyn team could go a long way toward restoring Indiana's confidence heading into the postseason.

Pacers: PG - Cory Joseph, SG - Wesley Matthews, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerNets: PG - D'Angelo Russell, SG - Joe Harris, SF - Rodions Kurucs, PF - DeMarre Carroll, C - Jarrett Allen

Pacers: Darren Collison - questionable (sore groin), Victor Oladipo - out (right knee surgery)

Nets: Allen Crabbe - out (sore right knee)

December 21, 2018: Victor Oladipo scored 11 of the Pacers' last 16 points as Indiana snapped the Nets' seven-game win streak with a 114-106 victory in Brooklyn.

"I thought he played angry," McMillan said about Oladipo's performance down the stretch. "I loved his attitude coming out in the second half, being aggressive and making plays. That's what he does."

Oladipo led all scorers with 26 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists. Thaddeus Young added 21 points, while Myles Turner tallied 15 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks.

Rodions Kurucs had a team-high 24 points for Brooklyn, while DeMarre Carroll added 16 points off the bench.

The Pacers will host the D'Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets in their final regular season home game on Sunday, April 7 at 5:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

For the final home game of the regular season, we will have giveaways and other surprises as part of Fan Appreciation Night presented by IMCU.

The Pacers will wear their Hickory uniforms and will honor the eight 2018-19 IHSAA boys and girls basketball state champion teams at halftime of Sunday's game.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Nets

Please Note: Doors will open for tonight's game at 6:30 PM ET

Will Game 1 of the Indiana's playoff series be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse or on the road? Friday's game against the Celtics — Indiana's likely first-round opponent — will go a long way towards determining just that, with the winner of the game gaining a tremendous edge in the race for the fourth seed.

Indiana and Boston are sporting identical 47-32 records with just three games remaining in the regular season. While the teams are not technically locked into a first-round matchup, the odds are overwhelming that they will end up facing one another.

Their matchup last Friday in Boston was a dramatic finish that featured a game-winning layup from Kyrie Irving, giving the Celtics a 2-1 lead in the season series.

Since that game, the teams' play has mirrored each other, with both squads losing their next game then winning their next two entering Friday's nationally-televised showdown.

Offensively, the Pacers have been led by Thaddeus Young of late, who scored team highs of 19 and 21 over Indiana's last two victories.

In another positive development, Indiana's defensive prowess seems to have returned as well, with the Pacers holding the Pistons to an average of 95.5 points during their home-and-home series.

In the final three games of the season, health has become a concern for the Pacers as the starting backcourt of Darren Collison (groin) and Wesley Matthews (hamstring) has missed the last two games.

The injuries opened up playing time for rookie guard Aaron Holiday, who has brought an energetic scoring presence to the floor in his minutes, scoring 10 points on Monday and seven on Wednesday. The contributions have been critical for an Indiana team that is already in a playoff state of mind.

"Every win counts. Every game, we have to play like it's our last possession or our last game," said Young. "We have to get as many wins as possible to keep up with that four spot. We just need to continue the course and continue to play and just take it from there."

Pacers: PG - Cory Joseph, SG - Tyreke Evans, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCeltics: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - Marcus Smart, SF - Jayson Tatum, PF - Al Horford, C - Aron Baynes

Pacers: Darren Collison - doubtful (sore groin), Wesley Matthews - questionable (right hamstring strain), Victor Oladipo - out (right knee surgery)

Celtics: Jaylen Brown - out (low back spasms), Marcus Morris - out (left knee soreness), Al Horford - probable (left knee soreness)

The Indiana Pacers opened Bankers Life Fieldhouse at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. Their first win in the new building was a 115-108 victory over the Boston Celtics on Nov. 6, 1999.

March 29, 2019: In what was likely a preview of the playoffs, the Pacers fell to the Celtics 114-112 in Boston.

With 10.2 seconds left and the game tied at 112, the Celtics put the ball in the hands of Kyrie Irving, who scored the game-winning layup with 0.5 on the clock.

"Kyrie (Irving) just made a good move, great hesitation," Darren Collison said. "He made a good move."

On Indiana's last effort, the inbounds pass was tipped, and the Pacers weren't able to get a potentially game-winning shot off.

Bojan Bogdanovic finished with a team high 27 points. Thad Young added 18, and Myles Turner had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Kyrie Irving led the way for Boston with 30 points. Al Horford scored 19, and Jaylen Brown added 16 off the bench.

The Pacers get another crack at their likely first-round opponent when Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday, April 5 at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Hubie Brown (analyst), Cassidy Hubbarth (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

The Pacers have teamed up with the Boston Celtics for Project 44 Awareness Night. Project 44 was created in honor of the late Andrew Smith, who wore the #44 during Butler's back-to-back NCAA Finals run in 2010 and '11. Project 44's Mission is to save lives through bone marrow donation. Text 'ANDREW' to 38470 to join the registry or visit Project44.org.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics

Just four games remain in the Pacers' season, with each one taking on increasing importance as Indiana remains locked in a battle with Boston for the fourth seed.

The fight for four continues on the road in Detroit on Wednesday, where the Pacers will complete the second game of a home-and-home series with the Pistons (39-38). Monday's matchup went Indiana's way, as the Pacers won 111-102 despite injuries that kept starters Darren Collison and Wesley Matthews out of the lineup.

Even without the two guards, Indiana (46-32) managed to get a balanced scoring effort, with seven Pacers reaching double-figures as the Blue & Gold pulled away from the Pistons — who were playing without All-Star Blake Griffin (knee) — in the fourth quarter.

A victory for the Pacers on Wednesday would set up an epic clash with Boston on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The teams currently have identical records with the Celtics leading the seasons series 2-1. The winner of Friday's nationally-televised tilt will have a tremendous edge in the race for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Pacers can't afford to get ahead of themselves, however, with Detroit remaining in must-win mode as it fights to keep hold of its spot in the postseason.

Down Blake Griffin and Luke Kennard, Detroit still made the game a fight until the very end, getting a huge night from shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who finished with a game-high 26 points.

Detroit also got a lift from the NBA's leading rebounder Andre Drummond, who filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

Despite the big nights, the Pacers were able to turn the tide on what had been an rough stretch of games. Indiana entered Monday's game having lost three in a row and seven of its last eight games.

"It's a new month now," said Myles Turner after Monday's win. "I think guys are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the playoffs coming. I think we're all locked in and we're engaged with an important couple of games here to determine where we'll be playing come playoff time."

Pacers: PG - Cory Joseph, SG - Tyreke Evans, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerPistons: PG - Reggie Jackson, SG - Wayne Ellington, SF - Bruce Brown, PF - Thon Maker, C - Andre Drummond

Pacers: Darren Collison - out (sore groin), Alize Johnson - probable (sore left foot), Wesley Matthews - out (right hamstring strain), Victor Oladipo - out (right knee surgery)

Pistons: Blake Griffin - questionable (left knee soreness), Luke Kennard - doubtful (right foot soreness)

April 1, 2019: Down two starters, the Pacers rallied together on Monday night and picked up a much-needed win. Seven Pacers scored in double figures as Indiana handled the Detroit Pistons at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 111-102.

Despite losing three in a row and seven of their last eight, the Pacers banded together against a shorthanded Detroit team, as seven Pacers finished the night with double-digit scoring totals.

"It's good to talk about a win," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan joked at his postgame press conference.

Thad Young had 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, nine rebounds, and five assists. Myles Turner tallied 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, six boards, five blocks, and three steals. And Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points, seven rebounds, and a season-high six assists.

Detroit guard Wayne Ellington led all scorers with 26 points in the loss. Reggie Jackson added 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Andre Drummond finished with 18 points, 17 boards, five assists, and four steals for the Pistons.

Following their game in Detroit, the Pacers get another crack at their likely first-round opponent when Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday, April 5 at 8:00 PM ET.Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

2018‑19 Game Preview