The Indiana Pacers are struggling as they head into a matchup against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, facing a daunting challenge against a formidable Celtics defense. This marks the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with past performances suggestive of a low-scoring affair.
The Pacers recently suffered a significant setback, managing their lowest scoring output of the season in a 121-78 defeat to the Detroit Pistons, and followed that up with just 104 points in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, characterized by a staggering 24 turnovers. This series of struggles has seen Indiana score 104 points or fewer in four of their last five games, far below their season average of 110.1 points per game, which places them nearly at the bottom of the league.
In contrast, the Celtics are currently positioned second in the Eastern Conference. Powered by All-Star Jaylen Brown, who was recently named an All-Star starter, the Celtics have experienced a slight dip, losing three out of their last five games. In those losses, Boston averaged only 98 points per game. Despite Brown dealing with a hamstring issue, he is listed as probable for the contest against the Pacers.
Given the Pacers’ struggles to score and the Celtics’ reputation for defensive prowess—ranking second in scoring defense and third in field goal shooting defense—the Over/Under for this game has been set at 227.5. The trend indicates a lower-scoring game, as evidenced by the Under hitting in two of the three previous meetings this season. The Pacers have also gone Under in six of their last seven games, underlining their ongoing offensive challenges.
In addition to game predictions, prop bets are being examined, including expectations for Brown to exceed 30 points and the potential for Aaron Nesmith to struggle with his three-point shooting, set at 2.5 makes.
This matchup, scheduled for January 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET, promises to be pivotal for both teams. The Pacers face a tough road as they haven’t won a road game against teams with a winning record in their last 15 attempts. Fans can watch the game on Indiana’s local sports network or NBC Sports Boston, offering a chance to see how these two teams fare against each other in what looks to be a battle of defense versus an ailing offense.