By CHRIS GOFF Related Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 38 factors, making a season-high eight 3-pointers, and Jaylen Brown added 31 factors because the Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 118-101 on Saturday night time, snapping the Pacers’ six-game profitable streak.
Tatum, who additionally had 13 rebounds and 6 assists, mixed with Brown for 27 of the Celtics’ 46 baskets on an evening they shot 51% from the sphere and by no means trailed.
“(Indiana) is actually good,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “After we play linked basketball, with bodily half-court protection and intentional, poised offense, we play higher, and that’s sort of what we did.”
Boston, which got here into the sport third within the NBA in field-goal share protection (.449) and third in rebound charge, restricted the Pacers to a season-low level complete and outrebounded them 70-42.
Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 20 factors whereas All-Star Tyrese Haliburton completed with 17 factors, seven assists, six rebounds and 5 steals.
“We missed a variety of photographs,” Haliburton stated. “They’re a extremely good defensive staff, however we shot a variety of photographs that we like. Simply didn’t capitalize on them.”
Boston held a 29-17 benefit on the finish of the opening interval, the Pacers’ lowest-scoring first quarter of the season. The Celtics opened up a 16-point lead within the second quarter and led 58-49 at halftime regardless of not trying a free throw within the half. Tatum and Brown shot a mixed 16 of 27 for 37 factors earlier than intermission.
“Me and Joe watch a variety of movie collectively,” Tatum stated. “It’s simply discovering methods to be aggressive. Play in house. Play off actions.”
Indiana lower its deficit to 84-81 getting into the fourth quarter, however the Celtics led by as many as 19 within the ultimate quarter and cruised down the stretch. Boston acquired solely six minutes from beginning middle Kristaps Porzingis, who left the sport on account of a watch laceration.
It was the newest chapter in an eventful season collection to date.
Within the first assembly, on Nov. 1 in Boston, the Celtics beat the Pacers 155-104 as Haliburton sat out on account of harm. Boston’s level complete was the franchise’s highest since 1959. In a hotly contested rematch on Dec. 4, Indiana prevailed 122-112 to knock the visiting Celtics out of the NBA’s inaugural in-season match behind Haliburton’s first profession triple-double.
Indiana performed with out beginning capturing guard Bruce Brown (bone bruise in proper knee) and reserve guard Andrew Nembhard (again sprain).
UP NEXT
Pacers proceed their five-game homestand with a rematch towards the Celtics on Monday night time.
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