The Boston Celtics visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday, December 26, for an Eastern Conference matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET as both teams manage significant injury concerns.
Boston enters the game with an 18-11 record and a three-game winning streak. Indiana sits at 6-24 and has dropped six straight games.
The Celtics listed Jayson Tatum as out following a right Achilles repair. Chris Boucher is also out for personal reasons, while Ron Harper Jr. and Amari Williams remain unavailable due to G League two-way assignments.
Jordan Walsh is listed as probable with an illness. Max Shulga is also out under a G League designation.
Despite the absences, Boston has leaned heavily on Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 29.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard continue to handle primary playmaking duties, combining for 10.3 assists per contest.
Indiana’s injury report is more extensive and directly impacts its core lineup. Tyrese Haliburton remains out with a right Achilles tendon tear. Aaron Nesmith is sidelined with a left knee MCL sprain, while Obi Toppin is out with a right foot stress fracture. Ben Sheppard is unavailable due to a left calf strain.
Isaiah Jackson is also out while in concussion protocol. Taelon Peter is listed as probable under a G League two-way designation.
[td_flex_block_1 category_id="" custom_title="MORE FOR YOU" header_color="#e91e63" td_filter_default_txt="" tag_slug="" sort="random_7_day" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0IjoiMjUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJtYXJnaW4tbGVmdCI6IjI1IiwicGFkZGluZy10b3AiOiIxMSIsInBhZGRpbmctcmlnaHQiOiIyNSIsInBhZGRpbmctYm90dG9tIjoiMTEiLCJwYWRkaW5nLWxlZnQiOiIyNSIsImJhY2tncm91bmQtY29sb3IiOiIjZjNmNGY2IiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiIsIi0tdGRiLXNjcm9sbC1hbmltIjoibm9uZSJ9LCJwaG9uZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tcmlnaHQiOiIwIiwibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQiOiIwIiwicGFkZGluZy1yaWdodCI6IjE1IiwicGFkZGluZy1sZWZ0IjoiMTUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBob25lX21heF93aWR0aCI6NzY3fQ==" mx3f_title_font_transform="" mx3f_title_font_weight="700" title_tag="h3" all_modules_space="0" video_popup="" image_size="td_218x150" image_height="65" image_floated="eyJwaG9uZSI6ImZsb2F0X2xlZnQifQ==" autoplay_vid="" show_vid_t="none" modules_category="image" modules_category_margin="eyJhbGwiOiI1cHgiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjVweCJ9" modules_extra_cat="hide" show_author="none" show_date="none" show_com="none" show_review="none" show_excerpt="none" show_audio="none" show_btn="none" f_title_font_size="15" f_title_font_line_height="1.25" f_title_font_weight="600" f_title_font_spacing="-0.2" cat_bg="#e16e00" modules_divider="solid" category_ids="-4430,-5489" show_cat="" modules_on_row="eyJhbGwiOiIzMy4zMzMzMzMzMyUiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjEwMCUifQ==" limit="3" meta_info_align="" modules_divider_color="#333333" image_width="eyJhbGwiOiIxMDAiLCJwaG9uZSI6IjQwIn0=" meta_info_border_color="" modules_border_color="" modules_gap="15" m_padding="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjE1cHggMHB4IDE1cHggMHB4In0=" art_title="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjBweCAwcHggMHB4IDE1cHgifQ==" video_icon="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjIwIn0=" f_cat_font_size="eyJwaG9uZSI6IjgifQ=="]With Haliburton unavailable, Pascal Siakam continues to carry the offensive load, averaging 23.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard have taken on expanded scoring and playmaking roles during the losing streak.
The teams met earlier this week on December 22, when Boston earned a 103-95 win at home. Boston followed that win with a 112-96 victory over Toronto, while Indiana dropped a 111-94 game against Milwaukee.
