Celtics outlast Pacers 129-124 after dropping 81 points in first half

The Pacers made things interesting down the stretch, but Jayson Tatum and the Celtics were able to secure a 129-124 victory in the end.

The Boston Celtics squeaked past the visiting Indiana Pacers 129-124 Tuesday at TD Garden, securing a victory on a night where the Pacers hung tough until the final horn. Newly minted All-Star Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston with 30 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, helping his club move to 37-11 on the season.

Boston looked electric to open the game. The Celtics scored 81 points in the first two quarters alone tonight, marking the highest scoring first half for Boston since 1982. The Pacers refused to lie down, however. Indiana combined speed with tenacity in mounting a comeback effort that nearly succeeded.

This was the fifth and final meeting of the regular season between the Celtics and Pacers, with Boston going 3-2 in those games. And while these two clubs could end up meeting again in the playoffs, for now, let’s take a look at Boston’s 129-124 win over Indiana.