When and Where
Friday, March 12, 7:30 p.m. ET (CSNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Celtics (40-23, first place in Atlantic Division, fourth place in Eastern Conference)
Pacers (21-43, fifth place in Central Division, 14th place in Eastern Conference)
Head to Head
This is the Celtics' third and final meeting with Indiana this season. They split the first two. On the road, the Celtics lost a shootout, falling 113-104 at Conseco Fieldhouse on Nov. 14. Danny Granger had 29 points for the Pacers in that game and Dahntay Jones added 25. Back at the Garden, however, it was a different story, as the Celtics won 103-94 at home on Dec. 22 behind a shut-down defensive effort in the second half. We'll see what the third meeting has in store for us.
Skinny
The Pacers should thank their lucky stars that the New Jersey Nets chose this season to go on their historically bad run — thanks to Jersey, the Pacers don't look nearly as bad. You may not have noticed, but this Pacers team is one of the worst in franchise history. Not since Clark Kellogg and Herb Williams ran the show for Indy in the mid-1980s has this team been this bad. This team has no offense, no depth, no hope.
Starting Lineups
Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins
Pacers
Point guard: T.J. Ford
Shooting guard: Earl Watson
Small forward: Brandon Rush
Power forward: Troy Murphy
Center: Roy Hibbert
Stat Sheet
Celtics
After Wednesday's blowout loss to Memphis, the Celtics are now 17-5 in games decided by 10 points or more.
They are shooting 34.8 percent from 3-point range, a sharp drop-off from the league-best 39.7 percent they shot last season.
Rajon Rondo has 607 assists this season, second in the NBA behind Steve Nash (716).
Paul Pierce is shooting the best percentage of his career from 3-point range (44.4 percent) and from the free-throw line (85.5 percent).
Ray Allen is 0-for-9 from 3-point range in the Celtics' two losses this week.
Kevin Garnett had a team-high seven rebounds in the loss Wednesday to the Grizzlies. He has now led the team in rebounding in nine straight games.
Kendrick Perkins is shooting just 53.6 percent from the field in March, bringing his league-best percentage for the season down to 60.9. Dwight Howard (60.1 percent) is now nipping at his heels.
Pacers
The Pacers are 7-27 on the road.
They average 97.7 possessions per game. They are the second-fastest paced team in the NBA, trailing only the Golden State Warriors.
Danny Granger has 23.1 points per game, leading the Pacers in scoring for the third consecutive season.
Troy Murphy leads the team with 9.7 rebounds per game.
Dahntay Jones had 25 points against the Sixers on Tuesday night, matching the season high he set against the Celtics back in November.
Roy Hibbert had 12 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday. It was his ninth double-double of the season.
T.J. Ford is averaging career lows in assists per game (3.9) and steals per game (1.0).
Black and Blue
Celtics
The Celtics continue to enjoy a stretch of perfect health. But can it transfer into wins? That's the real question.
Pacers
Danny Granger recently served a one-game suspension for an altercation last Saturday with the Suns' Channing Frye. He should be back in action Friday night.
Tyler Hansbrough is out indefinitely with an inner-ear infection.
Jeff Foster underwent back surgery in February. He is out for the season.
This Date in Celtics History
In 1985, Larry Bird scores 60 points in one game against the Atlanta Hawks, breaking the Celtics' franchise single-game scoring record. That record had been set just nine days prior by Bird's teammate, Kevin McHale. The Celtics win the game, 126-115.
Overheard
"That was the only good message this entire game."
–Doc Rivers' reaction Wednesday night to the P.A. announcement that only two minutes remained in the Celtics' blowout loss to the Grizzlies
Press Box
Celtics
Boston lost an ugly one to Memphis.
The Celtics need to step up.
Is it time for change?
Pacers
The Pacers looked for teamwork in Danny Granger's absence.
They beat the Sixers to snap their losing streak.
Owner Herb Simon faces a lawsuit.
NBA
Brandon Roy dropped 41 on the Warriors.
Mike Dunleavy is gone, but Donald Sterling continues to run the L.A. Clippers into the ground.
Gilbert Arenas becomes Agent Six.
Outlook
With most teams, stopping the leading scorer is half the battle. With the Pacers? Stopping Danny Granger is 80, perhaps even 90 percent of it. Granger is what makes this offense go — and really, he's the only thing they have going for them. If Paul Pierce can step up defensively against Granger and someone — anyone — can get the ball in the bucket for Boston on Friday night, then this losing streak will be a thing of the past. The Celtics could sure use a blowout win on their home floor to restore confidence.
