Intractable since the beginning of February, but not on a good day, the Celtics suffered a slight setback this Sunday, losing logically on the floor of the Pacers (128-107).
In “back-to-back”, the Boston players did not weigh very heavily once morest the Indianapolis franchise, whose success was mainly built in the second quarter, with baskets at 3- pts. Before Rick Carlisle’s men quietly manage their ten-point lead until the end of the match.
The performances of Tyrese Haliburton (22 points and 9 assists), Buddy Hield (21 points) or Malcolm Brogdon (20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists) were also essential in the Indiana camp, as well as that of the amazing Oshae Brissett (27 points).
A recipe sufficient to curb the C’s, who nevertheless remained on seven straight away victories.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— A quartet of fire for Indiana. All four present in the starting five, Tyrese Haliburton, Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield and Oshae Brissett carried the attack of the Pacers, this Sunday. At first, Haliburton and Brogdon started their team, with their assists, their baskets inside, at half distance and at 3-pts. Then, Brissett caught hot behind the arc, to propel Indianapolis to the controls and then to build on that lead. Before Hield decides to fold the case in the last act, full of insolence. A nice teamwork, therefore, for a prestigious victory.
— The 3-pt address has chosen its side. 17 of 33 for the Pacers (52%), 12 of 43 for the Celtics (28%). It is obvious that the success behind the arc was decisive in the outcome of this Sunday meeting. Because while Boston players have not stopped watering the followingnoon, Indiana players have meanwhile hit the mark insolently. Like Tyrese Haliburton (4/6) and especially Oshae Brissett (6/9), while Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield and Jalen Smith also planted award-winning baskets. First to take the advantage and widen the gap, then to repel the C’s comeback attempts.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Jackson/Smith pair. In the shadow of Tyrese Haliburton, Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield and Oshae Brissett, the two Pacers pivots have done a nice job under the panels. Between them, Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith have compiled 23 points and 14 rebounds, a solid line of stats. On the rebound, in the paint and at 3-pts, the Jackson/Smith duo did what was necessary to avoid being bullied by Robert Williams. Taking advantage of the spaces created by Haliburton, Brogdon, Hield and Brissett, furious behind the arc, to feed the brand of visitors with regularity, one following the other.
✅ Payton Pritchard. The departure of Dennis Schröder appears to have freed up Pritchard, once once more valuable off the bench, in rotation from Marcus Smart. Between his skill at 3-pts (4/8), his spontaneity in attack and his incessant activity, the cantankerous point guard of the Celtics did his best to boost the offensive productivity of his team, on his 17 minutes of playing time (for 14 points and 6 rebounds). If the defeat obviously tarnishes his performance, “PP” has shown that he was on the right track and that he deserved the playing time granted to him (finally) by Ime Udoka.
⛔ Grant Williams. Overall, the starting Celtics didn’t really shine in Indianapolis, with Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams probably doing the best, compared to irregulars Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart, who weren’t shooting well. As for the other Williams of the C’s, namely Grant, he was unfortunately unable to fill in as he should, and on each side of the floor, the absence of Al Horford, unused by his coach following his 37 minutes from the day before.
THE FOLLOWING
Indiana (21-41) : “back-to-back” in Orlando, this Monday evening (01:00).
Boston (36-27) : reception of Atlanta, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (01:30).
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