Basketball is weird. One night you're looking like the undisputed kings of the East, and the next, you're watching Pascal Siakam bank in a 7-foot leaner to steal a game you probably should have put away. That’s basically the vibe right now after the latest NBA Boston Celtics score from Monday night, where the Indiana Pacers managed to nip them 98-96 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Honestly, it wasn't just about the final tally. It was the way it felt. Boston moved to 24-15 on the season, which is still good for third in the Eastern Conference, but the cracks are starting to show a bit. They’ve dropped three of their last four. They lost a grit-and-grind affair to the Spurs (100-95) and got outdueled by Denver before that.
What Really Happened with the NBA Boston Celtics Score in Indy
If you just look at the box score, you see a two-point game and think, "Hey, tough road loss." But if you watched it, you saw a team missing its engine. Jaylen Brown was out. Lower back spasms kept him on the sidelines, and let’s be real, his 29.5 points per game don't just "get replaced." He also caught a $35,000 fine from the league earlier that day for chirping at the refs, so it was a rough 24 hours for the All-Star.
Derrick White tried to carry the load, and he almost did it. He tied the game at 96-96 with a tough layup with about 28 seconds left. But then Siakam did Siakam things—a pump fake, a step inside the line, and a high-arcing bank shot that felt like it hung in the air for an hour before dropping with 6.1 seconds on the clock.
White had one last look at a three-pointer to win it. It missed. Game over.
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The Role Players Stepped Up, Sorta
Payton Pritchard was the bright spot, finishing with 23 points and eight assists. He’s been surprisingly consistent this year, currently averaging about 17 points a night while shooting 33.8% from deep. Anfernee Simons added 16, and White finished with 18, though he struggled from the floor, going 7-of-21.
- Payton Pritchard: 23 PTS, 8 AST
- Derrick White: 18 PTS, 5 AST (7-21 FG)
- Anfernee Simons: 16 PTS
- Neemias Queta: Continued his solid work on the glass
The defense is still elite. Make no mistake. Boston is holding opponents to 110.1 points per game, which is second-best in the NBA. But the offense? It’s second in the league in rating but 14th in raw scoring. That's a weird paradox. They play at the slowest pace in the entire league (30th out of 30 teams). Sometimes that "Mazzulla-ball" turtle pace lets teams like the Pacers or Spurs hang around long enough to steal one at the buzzer.
Why the Current NBA Boston Celtics Score Matters for the Standings
Right now, the Atlantic Division is a total dogfight. The New York Knicks are sitting at 25-14, just one game ahead of Boston. Even the Raptors are right there at 24-17. The Celtics aren't in danger of falling out of the playoffs, obviously, but they're losing ground for that coveted top seed.
Detroit—yes, the Pistons—is actually leading the East at 28-10. Nobody saw that coming.
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The loss in Indiana was particularly stingy because the Pacers were bottom-feeders entering the night with a 9-31 record. Losing to a team that’s 22 games under .500 is the kind of thing that makes fans start questioning the depth, especially when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown aren't both on the floor to bail them out.
The Problem with the "All or Nothing" Shooting
Boston lives and dies by the three. We know this. It’s their identity. But when the NBA Boston Celtics score stays under 100, it usually means the perimeter game has turned into a brick factory. Against the Spurs, they only managed 95 points. Against the Pacers, 96.
When you’re shooting 33% from deep as a team, like they did in Indy, and you're not getting to the free-throw line (only 12 attempts for the whole team), you're asking for trouble.
What's Next for the C's?
The road trip doesn't get any easier. They have a date in Miami tonight (January 15) at the Kaseya Center. The Heat are 21-19 and always play the Celtics like it's Game 7 of the Finals. If Jaylen Brown is still out with those back spasms, the pressure on Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to create offense becomes immense.
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After Miami, they head to Atlanta and then Detroit. That game against the Pistons on the 19th is circled on everyone's calendar. It’s a chance to see if this Boston core can actually handle the new-look, high-flying Detroit squad that’s been terrorizing the conference.
Practical Takeaways for the Next Few Games:
- Watch the Injury Report: If Brown is out, expect the pace to slow down even more as Boston tries to win with defense.
- Live Betting Tip: If the Celtics are down at half but the opponent is shooting over 50%, look for the regression. Boston's defense usually tightens up in the fourth.
- Rotation Watch: Look for Neemias Queta to get more minutes. He’s been a beast on the offensive glass (averaging 3.1 offensive boards a game) and provides a vertical threat they desperately need when the jumpers aren't falling.
The sky isn't falling in Boston, but the "unbeatable" aura they had earlier in the season is definitely fading. They’re 24-15 and still a title contender, but the margin for error is getting smaller by the week.