The Pacers entered Saturday’s game against the Celtics as the top offense in the NBA. Fresh off a 150 point performance against the Hawks on Friday night, Indiana received a rude awakening against a shorthanded Boston squad, being held to a season-low 101 points in a 17-point home loss. Tyrese Haliburton was one of several Pacers who struggled mightily with their shots on Saturday night, going just 5-of-17 from the field in his 35 minutes.
Indiana as a team shot just 41.3 percent from the field and an ugly 19 percent from 3-point range, mustering just 20 points in a game-deciding fourth quarter.
After the loss, Haliburton made a point of acknowledging just how much trouble the Celtics gave Indiana in an area they usually thrive in.
“They are a good defensive team,” Haliburton told reporters in Indiana. “They got a lot of different guys who can defend. They are probably the best defensive team in the NBA, I don’t know what the numbers say.”
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The Celtics are still officially below the Timberwolves for the top defensive spot in the league even after Saturday’s win but they have put themselves in a unique position with their two-way player. Currently, Boston and Philadelphia are the only teams in the NBA that are in the NBA’s top 6 teams both offensively and defensively. Boston’s prowess on both ends has put them 3.5 games above the No. 2 team in the East (Milwaukee) after winning 12 of their last 15 games.
Haliburton will look to get some revenge against Boston in a rematch at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday as Indiana tries to solve the defense that gave them fits on Saturday night
“They got a lot of long wings. D White and Jrue are probably two of the best on-ball guys in the league. They have long wings flying around and stuff. It’s a good defensive team, good challenge. Look forward to playing them on Monday.”
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