Celtics score 81 in first half, hold off Pacers

In addition to grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists, Jayson Tatum scored a game-high thirty points to help the Boston Celtics defeat the Indiana Pacers 129-124 on Tuesday night. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown combined for 25 points and 24 rebounds for the Celtics, who converted 17 of their 36 3-point attempts. With 1:04 remaining, Aaron Nesmith’s layup put the Pacers behind 127-124, but Jrue Holiday’s two free throws with 16.1 seconds remaining gave Boston a five-point advantage. In the victory, Holiday scored 17 points.
Nesmith recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists at the game’s conclusion. Myles Turner finished with 17 points and Pascal Siakam with 23.

Although Tyrese Haliburton returned to action following his absence from 10 of Indiana’s previous 11 games due to a hamstring injury, the Pacers were without T.J. McConnell (sickness) and Bennedict Mathurin (toe sprain). In 22 minutes, Haliburton had 10 assists and 13 points. Al Horford (neck injury) and Luke Kornet (hamstring) were out for Boston’s game, but Kristaps Porzingis returned to the starting lineup following a two-game absence due to an ankle sprain. In his 24 minutes of action, Porzingis scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

After 12 minutes, Boston led 36–26 thanks to 15 points from White in the first quarter. With 1:22 left in the half, Tatum’s 3-pointer increased the Celtics’ lead to 79-59, and they led 81-66 at the break.

Boston made 12 of its 20 3-point tries and shot 65 percent (30 of 46) in the first half. This season, the 81 points were the highest the Celtics have scored in a half. With 4:11 remaining in the third quarter, Turner’s free throw gave the Pacers a 94-93 lead. However, Boston rallied to lead 106-103 going into the fourth quarter. The Pacers had scored 28 of the first 40 points in the quarter. Three of Boston’s five meetings with Indiana this year have resulted in victories.

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