The Boston Celtics are set to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals after the Pacers’ decisive Game 7 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In that game, the Pacers showcased an outstanding performance, shooting an impressive 76 percent in the first half and holding a 15-point lead at halftime. They continued their strong play to win 130-109, marking their ninth advancement to the Conference Finals in franchise history.
During the regular season, the Celtics and Pacers faced off five times, with Boston winning three of those encounters. Their first meeting was a dominant 155-104 victory for the Celtics in November, featuring Jayson Tatum’s 30-point performance and six other Celtics scoring in double digits.
The Pacers responded in the In-Season Quarterfinals with a 122-112 victory, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s first career triple-double. In their next game, the Celtics won 118-101 in January, with Tatum scoring 38 points. The Pacers bounced back two nights later with a narrow 133-131 win despite Haliburton’s absence, thanks to Bennedict Mathurin’s clutch free throws. Their final regular-season matchup saw the Celtics narrowly triumph 129-124, with Tatum contributing 30 points and a crucial block in the final moments.
Tatum consistently excelled against the Pacers, averaging 32.5 points on 57.8 percent shooting, while Jaylen Brown added 28.4 points on 60.6 percent shooting. The Pacers, known for their fast-paced offense led by Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Pascal Siakam, will present a significant challenge to the Celtics’ defense.
