Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Stellar Final Frame Snaps Pacers' Win Streak
The Boston Celtics came to Indiana on the second night of a back-to-back and started their two-tilt mini-series against the Pacers by holding the hosts to their lowest-scoring output this season.
That most notably included stifling Indiana's high-octane offense in the fourth quarter, limiting the Pacers to 20 points in the final frame of Saturday's 118-101 victory.
Boston's stellar play in the final 12 minutes included Jayson Tatum generating 15 of his game-high 38 points, burying one three after another.
The soon-to-be five-time All-Star converted on 14/23 field goal attempts, including 8/13 from beyond the arc. He paired that production with 14 rebounds, the most in the matchup, and six assists.
Jaylen Brown's consistently attacking downhill, capitalizing against a defense that struggles to protect the paint, translated to 31 points, the second most on either team.
The Celtics also got crucial contributions off the bench, headlined but certainly not limited to Al Horford's near triple-double. The 16-year veteran, who made one winning play after another in the fourth quarter, registered ten points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
Now for a deep dive into what stood out as Boston came two points shy of a tenth-straight game with at least 120 points and seizing sole possession of a franchise record, but had far more meaningful takeaways as the team atop the NBA standings improved to 28-7.
1. The Celtics were energetic out of the gates, exemplified by a sequence where Kristaps Porzingis tracked down a Jrue Holiday missed three, leading to a Jaylen Brown jam.
At the other end, the visitors' seven-foot-three center stepped in front of a Tyrese Haliburton pass, then got rewarded for running the floor, finishing with a two-handed flush.
2. In a concerning moment, Porzingis swatted an Aaron Nesmith attempt at the basket, but the latter inadvertently poked him in the right eye as he reached for the ball. The former All-Star quickly went to the floor in pain.
He had a scratch on the outside of his right eyelid, and the training staff injected droplets to treat the afflicted area. A few minutes later, Porzingis returned to the game.
Unfortunately, on the Latvian native's first play after checking back in, he got undercut, resulting in a hard fall. When he got to the other end of the court, he called for a sub and went to the locker room at the next stop in play.
While the fall he took was also cause for concern, Boston listed him as questionable to return, only citing right eye irritation.
3. The Celtics paired their downhill attack, producing 12 points in the paint in the first frame against a defense that struggles mightily in that area, with 5/12 (41.7 percent) shooting from beyond the arc.
Even though they committed five turnovers, their shot creation and selection benefitted their defense, which limited the Pacers to 17 points, matching their season low for any quarter. Indiana shot 30.4 percent from the field, including 1/10 from three-point range, as the visitors held a 29-17 advantage after the opening period.
4. The second quarter featured a lot of sloppy play by the Celtics, who committed seven giveaways. The hosts parlayed those into 15 points, helping them produce 16 in the paint and a 7-0 edge in fast-break scoring. The former had 12 turnovers, leading to 20 points for the latter in the first half.
But when Indiana had to operate in the half court, Boston continued defending well, limiting Haliburton to six points in the opening 24 minutes and Indiana to 40 percent shooting, including 4/19 (21.1) percent from beyond the arc. No one on the hosts scored in double digits through the first two periods.
5. That and Jayson Tatum, the only player on either side who scored in double digits in the second frame, erupting for 14 points in the 12 minutes before halftime, fueled an 11-2 run that gave the visitors a 58-42 lead, their most sizeable advantage before the break.
Tatum had 20 points at intermission on 8/14 shooting, including burying 4/9 threes, with one coming after snatching Myles Turner's ankles after Indiana's center switched onto the soon-to-be five-time All-Star.
6. While the three-time All-NBA selection did most of his damage from distance, Jaylen Brown did his from close range, repeatedly attacking the basket. That approach translated to him putting 14 of his 17 points on the board in that area on the floor in the first half. He generated the second-most points in the matchup at that juncture, helping Boston overcome not attempting a single free throw and head to the locker room with a 58-49 edge.
7. The third frame saw the C's manufacture 14 points in the paint, with Jaylen Brown driving downhill, especially against Haliburton, serving as their most reliable source of offense.
They also kept the turnovers to two and got 11 points from their bench. That helped them protect the lead despite Porzingis being in the locker room, Derrick White playing only 44 seconds in the period, and Tatum and Sam Hauser picking up their fourth personal fouls.
Speaking of Hauser, he had an impressive attack out of the corner, getting by Haliburton and then two-stepping his way to a reverse layup. His growing more comfortable making plays off the dribble and demonstrating a comfort level finishing at the rim is a meaningful development with the playoffs in mind.
8. Still, Boston had trouble containing Indiana's star guard, who finally got loose, putting nine points on the board and dishing out four assists, leading a charge by the hosts that had them within three, 84-81, entering the last 12 minutes.
9. From his on-ball defense to coming from behind to block a Buddy Hield long-range attempt immediately after Brown rejected Hield's first try from above the break, burying a corner three, ripping away an offensive rebound, and attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact, Oshae Brissett's hustle plays and infusion of energy in the final frame were exactly what the Celtics wanted to see as they hope to fill their search for a big wing internally.
10. And with Tatum putting 15 more points on the board, winning plays from Al Horford, including blocking a Haliburton transition layup and swatting one of his passes, leading to a lob to Jaylen Brown, and Boston limiting Indiana to 20 points in the final frame, the visitors' stellar two-way performance allowed them to pull away for a 118-101 victory.
While the Celtics will have to settle for matching their franchise record with nine consecutive games with at least 120 points, they'll take far more pride in how they played for most of, but especially the last 12 minutes of a win on the second night of a back-to-back that snaps the Pacers' winning streak at six.
11. The Celtics and Pacers will complete this two-game mini-series on Monday. That matchup will tip off at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Further Reading
Celtics Maximization Fueled by Their Maturation: 'Not Taking Days for Granted'
Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So
Brad Stevens Says Celtics Have 'Green Light' to Add to Payroll, But Boston Still Restricted
Celtics' Maturation, Sacrifice Fueling Their Success
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'
