Boston Celtics pursue consistency against improving Indiana Pacers
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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (left) heads for the net during the NBA match against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec 25.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BOSTON – The Boston Celtics will look to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season when they host the visiting Indiana Pacers on Dec 27 (Dec 28, Singapore time).
They are coming off losses to the Orlando Magic (108-104) and the Philadelphia 76ers (118-114).
The setback against Philadelphia dropped Boston’s home record to 11-5 and gave the reigning NBA champions one more home defeat than they had during the 2023-24 regular season, when they finished 37-4 at TD Garden.
“We’re playing inconsistent basketball, so we’ve got to be better at both ends of the floor,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Got to be more consistent at both ends of the floor.”
The Christmas Day loss to the Sixers meant the Celtics took back-to-back losses for the first time this season. They are 3-4 in their past seven outings.
“I think that’s a fair criticism from (Mazzulla),” Al Horford said of the coach calling the team inconsistent.
“I just think that we have to really dive into our work a little more and understand that we can’t relax during periods of the game, no matter the circumstance. We have to make sure that we’re a little better in that regard, and with this group, I know that we’re capable of getting it together.
“Now, we have to look at this opportunity to play Indiana and come out and have a better performance with the effort and the intensity that it requires.”
Health continues to be an issue for the Celtics, who did not have Jrue Holiday (shoulder) for the loss to the 76ers and then lost Kristaps Porzingis to an ankle injury in the first half. Both are listed as questionable for Indiana.
“We’ve got to be better,” Boston star Jayson Tatum added.
“It’s still a long season. Nobody’s panicking. We’ve got to navigate the emotional roller-coaster of the NBA season. We’ve just got to man up and look in the mirror and figure out some things that we’ve got to do better at.”
Indiana will attempt to beat Boston for the second time this season.
On Oct 30, Pascal Siakam made six three-pointers, one of which broke a tie with 6.1 seconds to play in overtime, giving the Pacers a 135-132 victory over the Celtics in Indianapolis.
Unlike Boston, Indiana are playing some of their best basketball recently, but their five-game winning streak ended with a 120-114 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec 26.
The Pacers could be without Obi Toppin against Boston. The forward sprained his left ankle in the first quarter against the Thunder and was helped off the court. He returned for four minutes in the second quarter but did not play in the second half. REUTERS
