Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
The game marks the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season. Boston is coming off a 104-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, a one-possession defeat that stings more than most.
Wednesday’s injury report clarified who will be available for both sides.
A Key Celtic On The Injury Report
Jaylen Brown appears on the injury report with left hamstring tightness.
He carries a probable designation, which suggests the issue is minor. Brown scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Monday night against Detroit. He did all of that just hours after learning he would start in the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
The hamstring tightness has not kept him out of practice. He should play Wednesday.
Josh Minott remains out with a left ankle sprain. This marks his ninth consecutive missed game. There is no clear timeline for his return.
Jayson Tatum continues recovering from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered eight months ago. Tatum worked out Monday morning in Michigan, in front of reporters. The session lasted nearly an hour and offered the clearest look yet at where his recovery stands. He moved with confidence. He exploded on dunks. And he shot efficiently from his usual spots.
Indiana Brings Its Own Injury Questions
The Pacers will remain without three players Wednesday night.
Tyrese Haliburton remains out while recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Obi Toppin is sidelined with a right foot stress fracture. Bennedict Mathurin cannot play due to a right thumb sprain.
Indiana has leaned heavily on Pascal Siakam this season. He leads the team with 23.6 points per game, and had 21 points last time out against the Celtics.
The Pacers sit at 10-34 with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and have dropped their last two games.
What This Season Series Has Looked Like
Wednesday closes out the season series.
The Celtics won two of the first three matchups. Boston erased double-digit deficits in back-to-back December games against Indiana, showing resilience when the game turned against them.
The most recent meeting came last Monday. The Pacers won 98-96 on a game-winning shot by Siakam with six seconds remaining. Brown missed that game while dealing with back spasms. His absence proved costly.
Boston has been carried this season by Brown’s career year. He averages 29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Alongside Brown, Derrick White adds 17.7 points despite navigating a January slump, while Payton Pritchard contributes 16.6 points and 5.3 assists per game.
Two Celtics shooters have found their rhythm in January. Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons have come into form, becoming reliable scoring options when the offense needs a spark.
StatMuse
Anfernee Simons this season:
— 1st in bench threes — 3rd in bench points — 5th in bench plus/minus
Top __ candidate for 6MOTY.
Final Word for the Celtics
Brown should play Wednesday despite the hamstring tightness.
Boston needs a response after Monday’s close loss to Detroit. They also need to avenge last week’s defeat to Indiana. The Pacers are shorthanded and struggling, but they have already beaten the Celtics once this season when Brown was unavailable.
Wednesday offers a chance to close the series on the right note.