Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Continue Showing Growth in Key Area, Make Light Work of Pacers
For the second straight game, the Boston Celtics refused to let their opponent dictate their effort.
After their 126-107 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday, from Jayson Tatum to Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla, the C's voiced that was a point of emphasis for them this season after repeatedly struggling against .500 or worse competition in the 2022-23 campaign.
Wednesday, against an Indiana Pacers team down their best player, Tyrese Haliburton, the hosts again kept their foot on the gas. Perhaps losing to the Pacers at TD Garden last season provided added motivation as they registered the second-most points in franchise history. The 155-104 blowout is also their third-largest margin of victory since 2000.
Either way, there was little Indiana could do to slow down Tatum, who showed off his three-level scoring, an area he's growing in after averaging 30 points per game the previous campaign.
The four-time All-Star registered 30 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Derrick White chipped in 18 points and four assists, and Brown produced 16 points and seven rebounds. The hosts also got 15 points, seven boards, four assists, and a block from Jrue Holiday, who had an outstanding performance and continues looking increasingly comfortable in their offense.
Now, a deep dive into what stood out in Boston's 51-point win over the Pacers.
1. Jrue Holiday was aggressive early, looking for his shot but doing so within the flow of the offense.
A prime example that also reflected the up-tempo pace the Celtics played with to start the game was when he came off a Kristaps Porzingis screen, knowing if Bruce Brown switched onto the seven-foot-three center, he'd get the ball to him. Instead, Brown backed off of Holiday to deny a potential pass to Porzingis, so the two-time All-Star stepped into a three, knocking it down without hesitation.
Holiday finished the first frame with eight points on 3/3 shooting, including burying two threes.
2. Collectively, Boston was on fire from long range, drilling 8/11 shots from beyond the arc in the first 12 minutes. The Pacers entered this game yielding only nine three-point makes per contest, the fewest in the NBA.
Those include Derrick White making 3/4. The former Colorado Buffalo ended the period with 11 points, leading all scorers, helping the hosts build a 44-27 advantage entering the second quarter.
3. The pace of play was choppy in the second frame, but again, the Celtics held Indiana to 27 points. After going 0/7 from beyond the arc in the first 12 minutes, the visitors went 3/10 in the second period.
Some that was a product of missing open shots, but the hosts deserve credit for staying active and rotating out to contest long-range looks.
4. Boston's defense helped it overcome the fact it also struggled from the field, shooting 37 percent from the floor, including 2/7 (28.6 percent) from behind the arc.
The Celtics' consistently getting stops paired well with an aggressive offensive approach that led to taking (and making) nine free-throw attempts in the second period. They also produced ten points in the paint.
5. That production helped the C's take a 75-54 advantage into halftime. While Tyrese Haliburton's absence didn't help the visitors' cause, generating that type of output despite not shooting well in the second quarter speaks as much, if not more, to the Celtics' talent as it does Indiana's defense.
Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 21 points at halftime. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists. White registered 13, and Jaylen Brown contributed 10 points and six boards.
6. Boston widened the gap in the third quarter, outscoring its guests 34-17, taking a 109-71 edge into the final 12 minutes.
Tatum continued showing off his three-level scoring, including burying a step-back three over Myles Turner and carving up multiple defenders, knifing his way to the rim, then inverting his hand on the finish.
7. For an Indiana team that's made meaningful progress in its rebuild in recent years, the combination of not having Haliburton and shooting poorly from beyond the arc left the Pacers with practically no chance of earning a victory Wednesday night at TD Garden.
8. Celtics fans will appreciate the focus and approach their favorite team displayed for the second-straight game against an opponent posing little threat, continuing to prove they're growing in that area after struggling to do so last season.
9. The Celtics' next game is Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center; tip-off is at 8:00 EST.
Further Reading
Oshae Brissett Discusses Facing Former Team Ahead of Celtics-Pacers Game
What the 76ers' Trading James Harden Means for the Celtics
Weighing Whether Celtics Should Sign Danny Green
After Dominant Display vs. Wizards, Celtics Discuss Not Playing Down to Competition
Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat
Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Celtics Embracing Sacrifice in Championship Pursuit: 'Have to Buy into That'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
