Pacers at Celtics
THE STORY: If there was any doubting their credentials as serious contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers took a huge step toward erasing them Wednesday night. The Pacers went into Chicago and rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to hand the Bulls their first home loss and fourth defeat overall on the season. Indiana was intent on making a statement after playing Chicago tough in a playoff series last season. “The difference between this year’s team and last year’s team, we have confidence that we’ll score at crunch time,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’ll score in the fourth quarter. We didn’t have that last year.” Indiana will look to continue the momentum Friday night when they visit the Boston Celtics, a team it has beaten twice this month. The Celtics have won three straight and are coming off a stunning victory, erasing a 27-point deficit in winning at Orlando on Thursday night.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSIN, CSNE
ABOUT THE PACERS: (12-5): After a slow start to the season, Indiana forward Danny Granger is picking up his offensive game. He had a team-high 22 points against Chicago – his fourth 20-point game in the last eight – and is averaging 20.0 points while shooting 10 of 18 from 3-point range in his last four games. C Roy Hibbert tied season highs with 20 points and four blocks against the Bulls. He has scored in double figures in 12 straight.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (8-9): With starting guards Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen sidelined, rookie E’Twaun Moore saw more extensive action and responded with a season-high 16 points. He nailed all four of his 3-point attempts, including two that sparked Boston’s comeback in the fourth quarter. Moore had scored only 22 points in the team’s first 12 games. Paul Pierce not only scored a team-high 24 points, but also had his second 10-assist performance in the last three games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Indiana has beaten the Celtics three straight times and ended a streak of seven straight losses in Boston on Jan. 6.
2. Celtics C Jermaine O’Neal, a former Pacer, also missed Thursday’s game and his status is unclear for Friday. Rondo and Allen are expected to sit out again.