The Indiana Pacers are looking to break a three-game losing streak when they host the undefeated Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers started the season with a win over Detroit but have since dropped three straight, including a 119-115 loss to Orlando on Monday. Despite overcoming a 13-point deficit in the third quarter to take an eight-point lead in the fourth, the Pacers couldn’t hold off a 50-point performance from Paolo Banchero. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 26 points and nine rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton added 19 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. The Pacers struggled at the free-throw line, missing 10 of 30 attempts.
The defending NBA champion Celtics maintained their perfect start with a 119-108 win over Milwaukee on Monday. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 28 points in 28 minutes, hitting 10 of 14 field-goal attempts, including 8 of 12 from three-point range. Pritchard has scored in double figures in his last three games and is tied for the NBA lead in made three-pointers with 19. Jaylen Brown scored 21 of his team-high 30 points in the second half.
Wednesday’s game marks the beginning of a four-game road trip for Boston.