The Boston Celtics got their revenge against the Indiana Pacers Tuesday night, winning 116 – 111 on the road at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the second game of the two team’s series, instituted to minimize pandemic travel.
All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum led the the Celtics with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists with teammate Jaylen Brown adding 20 points and 4 steals. For the Pacers, guard Victor Oladipo put up 24 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the Pacers in the losing contest, while Indiana floor general Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 19 points and 7 assists. The Celtics have now improved to 2 – 2 for the season, and the Pacers fall to 3 – 1.
The win could well prove important late in the season if tiebreakers end up determining playoff seeding.
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Fresh on the heels of a low-energy loss on Sunday, Boston ramped up their effort and communication, Tatum in particular playing more aggressive and attacking the cup with good results.
“We knew we had to pick up the intensity, and we knew we had to get some defensive stops,” shared the Missouri native after the game. “We got on a roll and kept on going.”
And they did, to the relief of many Boston fans.
Celtics exercise options on Grant, Robert Williams, Romeo Langford https://t.co/JHIMnpa5FX
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 29, 2020
Had the Celtics fallen to 3 – 1 on the season, it likely would have been a heavy blow to both the team and the fanbase, so the win may well serve as a template fresh in their collective memories to build on against a comparatively easier slate of games in the team’s near-term schedule.
To that end, Boston now faces the Memphis Grizzlies in the second night of the team’s first back-to-back of the season, tipping off at 7:30 pm ET.
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