Jaylen Brown posted 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Boston Celtics built a commanding first-half lead and cruised to a 119-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
Boston jumped out to a 23-point advantage before halftime and never looked back, bouncing back from Monday’s one-point loss at Eastern Conference-leading Detroit. Sam Hauser knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, while Neemias Queta added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics.
Hauser set the tone early, drilling his first three shots from beyond the arc — including two in the opening 68 seconds. Boston led 57-34 with 3:22 remaining in the second quarter.
Indiana made a push after halftime, trimming the deficit to nine in the third quarter, but Anfernee Simons answered with a timely 3-pointer to halt the momentum. The Pacers never got the margin back to single digits again.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 32 points and 10 rebounds, and Jarace Walker provided a spark off the bench with 19 points. The Pacers, who have gone 4-3 since a 13-game losing streak in December and January, couldn’t overcome Boston’s early surge.
The game also featured a notable courtside appearance, as new Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suárez, in town to announce his five-year, $130 million contract, received a warm welcome from the crowd when he was shown on the video board alongside agent Scott Boras.
Up next:
Up next, the Pacers continue their road trip at Oklahoma City on Friday before visiting Atlanta on Monday. The Celtics head to Brooklyn for a Friday night matchup.
