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Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett scored 21 points each, but the Boston Celtics were routed by the Indiana Pacers, 97-83, for the second time this season. Boston has now dropped four games and is now 4-7. Danny Granger scored 21 for Indiana.
The undercard involving a Boston team on this Sunday night is happening in Indiana, and the Boston Celtics aren't doing so well away from the bright lights that are attending to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Boston trails the Pacers, 56-48, at halftime.
Indiana got 13 points from Paul George and 12 points from Danny Granger in the first half, and the Pacers' defense has limited the Celtics to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
Kevin Garnett, who has taken 13 shots, has 13 points to lead the Celtics. Paul Pierce has added 11 points.
Beyond the scoreboard, other parts of the box score are more or less even. Both teams had 23 rebounds and seven turnovers at the half, and while the Celtics had shot 16 free throws, the Pacers were only one shot better, at 17 attempts from the charity stripe.
For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.
The last time the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers met, it was pretty ugly. The Celtics tied a franchise low with 25 first-half points and stumbled around in the second half as the Pacers brushed off the C's for an 87-74 win last Friday night.
Paul Pierce and the Celtics will look to extract some revenge as they battle Danny Granger and the improving Pacers in round two of their four-game season series at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (TV/Radio: CSNNE, WEEI).
In the first meeting, Ray Allen led all scorers with 23 points, but that was about the only bright spot for the Celtics, who were held to 39.4 percent shooting (26-of-66). Paul Pierce was 3-for-17 from the field and finished with 10 points. Kevin Garnett added 12 points and six rebounds while Rajon Rondo added 11 points and nine assists in defeat.
Danny Granger scored a team-high 15 points for the Pacers, who had six players reach double-digit scoring and shot 40.5 percent collectively. Darren Collison scored 14 points, George Hill had 13 points, both Paul George and Tyler Hansbrough had 12 points and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana.
The Celtics are coming off another tough loss to the Chicago Bulls, 88-79, on Friday night. Ray Allen led the Celtics with 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 14 points and 11 assists as the C's shot 41.3 percent from the field. Boston had another dismal first half, falling behind by 19 points at the break. Despite a big third quarter, the C's couldn't finish the comeback.
Indiana survived against the Toronto Raptors, winning 95-90 on Friday night behind a 22-point and five-steal night from George Hill off the bench. Roy Hibbert had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who drained 30-of-66 buckets to shoot 45.5 percent. Danny Granger, the Pacers' leading scorer, was limited to just four points in the narrow victory.
Boston and Indiana will play twice more this season following Saturday night's contest.
For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.
Celtics Vs. Pacers Final Score: Boston Drops Fourth Straight, 97-83
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett scored 21 points apiece, but the Boston Celtics were thoroughly defeated by the Indiana Pacers, 97-83, for the second time this season on Saturday evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Boston has now lost four straight games and sits at 4-6. Boston's first loss of the current losing streak also came against the Pacers, an 87-74 loss last Friday, in which the Celtics tied a franchise low with 25 first-half points in the ugly loss.
Brandon Bass scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds of the bench for Boston, which was limited to 38.6 percent shooting (32-for-83). Ray Allen scored seven, Rajon Rondo had six points and nine assists and Jermaine O'Neal had 12 rebounds to go along with three points for the Celtics.
Danny Granger scored 21 points to lead Indiana, which made 35-of-94 baskets to shoot 37.2 percent. Darren Collison and Paul George each scored 17 points and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers.
Indiana took a 29-24 lead after the first quarter and outscored the Celtics again in the second, 27-24. The Pacers didn't let off the gas in the second half, outscoring the C's 26-19 in the third before being outscored 16-15 in the final quarter.
Boston is off on Sunday and returns home to face the Oklahoma CIty Thunder on Monday.
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For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.
Jan 14 10:04p by Gethin Coolbaugh