The Indiana Pacers are set to face off against the Boston Celtics in the quarterfinal match of the NBA In-Season Tournament. The game is scheduled for Monday at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics previously dominated the Pacers with a huge 41-point victory. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Fans can catch the action on Bally Sports Indiana and NBC Sports Boston, or stream it live via NBA League Pass.
The Pacers, currently holding a 10-8 record, are under pressure to make up for their earlier loss to the Celtics. Their performance in this game is crucial for advancing to the semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks matchup.
Tyrese Haliburton was SPECIAL in In-Season Tournament Group Play 🔥
👀 his best moments before the Pacers battle the Celtics in the Quarterfinals on Monday (7:30pm/et on TNT) pic.twitter.com/RjkmMJn3Gb
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2023
But with important players on their injury report, questions are raised about the team’s readiness. Tyrese Haliburton, the franchise’s leading point guard, is listed as ‘questionable’ due to a knee injury. Also, the participation of Obi Toppin and Jalen Smith also remains uncertain.
Kristaps Porzingis is out for the Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics game tonight
The Boston Celtics having a strong 15-4 record, face a significant setback with the absence of star player Kristaps Porzingis. The skilled big man is continuing his recovery from a calf injury sustained in a game against the Orlando Magic in late November. This absence might affect the Celtics’ gameplay, especially in their offense and defense strategies in the paint.
ESPN Sources: There’s optimism Boston Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis (calf strain) will return to lineup this week. Porzingis is out for In Season Tourney quarters vs. Indiana Monday, but there’s increasing confidence he’ll be back in Vegas for IST Final 4 should Celtics advance.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 4, 2023
Indiana Pacers injury report
- Obi Toppin (questionable)
- Tyrese Haliburton (questionable)
- Jalen Smith (out)
Indiana Pacers expected starting lineup
- T.J. McConnell
- Buddy Hield
- Bruce Brown
- Aaron Nesmith
- Myles Turner
Boston Celtics injury report
- Kristaps Porzingis (out)
Boston Celtics expected starting lineup
- Jrue Holiday
- Derrick White
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Al Horford
Even without Porzingis, the Celtics’ roster remains strong. With their star players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday ready to play, the Celtics are still in a solid position. They aim to use their top-end talent to overcome the Pacers’ challenge.
The Celtics are slightly favored over the Pacers tonight
Heading into tonight’s game, the Celtics are slight favorites in what is expected to be a closely contested quarterfinals matchup. Currently, they are -5 on the spread (-110) and -200 on the money line. Much of Boston’s game plan will mostly focus on slowing down Indiana’s fast-paced offense.
🏆MONDAY IN SEASON TOURNAMENT PLAY🏆
Discord: 104-61, +34.12u
XNBA: 35-18, +14.46🥉1u – Celtics/Pacers under 239.5 -110 (MGM)
All current lines across all books are good to play.
This is essentially a game 7. Win and advance… or lose and go home. The Pacers play FAST, but… pic.twitter.com/myLVTL4gYC
— BlaiseBets📘 (@BlaiseBets) December 3, 2023
The Pacers, on the other hand, are hoping for the return of Tyrese Haliburton, whose presence is key for their offense. His playmaking and scoring abilities are important to the team’s performance. The Pacers will need to step up their game, especially in the absence of Jalen Smith and the questionable status of Haliburton and Toppin.