The Celtics Crush the Pacers in a Dominant Performance
On Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics showcased their prowess by defeating the Indiana Pacers decisively. Although the bench players were under scrutiny, it was the starting lineup that set the tone. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday opened the game with three consecutive three-pointers, while Porzingis and Brown added emphatic dunks, sparking a 14-0 run. The Pacers finally found their scoring touch, but the Celtics had already established a commanding 20-10 lead.

Despite the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers fought back, with Boston native Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith, seeking revenge against their former team, making significant contributions. However, the Celtics’ offensive onslaught proved too much for the Pacers to handle. By the end of the first quarter, the Celtics led 44-27, shooting an incredible 76 percent from the field.

In the second quarter, the Celtics applied a soft press on defense to maintain pressure on their opponents and maintain their competitive edge. The team displayed a determination to dominate their opponents consistently, even early in the season.

The Celtics showcased their dominance by overwhelming the Pacers, who struggled to contain the talents of all five Celtics starters. Whether it was Tatum outclassing T.J. McConnell or Porzingis connecting with Brown on alley-oops, the Pacers were outmatched for most of the game.

Defensively, White and Holiday proved to be a formidable backcourt duo, setting an aggressive tone. White’s spectacular block on a Mathurin dunk attempt, though technically negated by an offensive foul call, added to the excitement.

The performance of the Celtics’ bench, a subject of recent discussion, turned out to be commendable. Excluding Al Horford, who played a significant role, the bench players contributed nine of the team’s 75 points, extending the lead to 21 by halftime. Oshae Brissett provided energy, and Hauser displayed accuracy from beyond the arc. During garbage time, the bench continued to impress, with Dalano Banton and Lamar Stevens showcasing their skills.

While the bench’s performance has been a focal point of Celtics discussions, it’s essential to consider that these players are expected to defer to the team’s primary scorers. With a plethora of elite scoring options on the Celtics, players like Pritchard, Hauser, and Brissett don’t need to take many shots most of the time. The only concern may be overworking the starters, but if the Celtics can dominate games within three quarters, that’s a good problem to have.

The Celtics resumed their dominance in the second half, extending their lead through stifling defense and overwhelming offense. By the end of the third quarter, their lead had ballooned to 38 points, and it seemed like every shot was finding the mark. The Celtics finished the game shooting an astonishing 56 percent from beyond the arc and 55 percent from the field.

The Celtics’ starting lineup continued to be the most formidable unit in basketball, scoring an impressive 92 points in under three quarters. The Celtics achieved a historic victory, scoring 150+ points for the first time since 1992 and defeating the Pacers by a remarkable 51-point margin, marking the third-highest point total in Celtics history. What’s even better is that all five starters played fewer than 30 minutes, making it a dream scenario for the team. The Celtics will aim to continue their dominant performance against the Nets on Saturday.