The Celtics topped the Indiana Pacers 140-122 to complete the home-and-home sweep Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and win their fourth-straight.
Jaylen Brown notched 30-points for an eighth consecutive game and 11 times over the past 12, going 13-of-20 from the field to go along with four assists and four steals. It's been an impressive feat to witness, but mostly due to the All-Star's acknowledgement of when to score and when to spread the wealth with his teammates.
"To me, it's just balance," C's coach Joe Mazzulla said in his postgame comments. "He just picks and chooses his spots really well. We're obviously playing a little bit faster, so he's getting some easy baskets in transition. I think he's finding the great balance of knowing when to score within the offense versus letting the guys do their thing."
Payton Pritchard recorded a near double-double of 29 points (10-of-17 shooting) and nine rebounds, while Sam Hauser was 7-of-8 from 3-point range for 23 points and Derrick White added 21 points, six assists to help Boston improve to 19-11 on the season.
Andrew Nembhard had 18 points, eight assists with TJ McConnell and Bennedict Mathurin each chipping in 13 points respectively for the Pacers, who fell to 6-25 and are now on a seven-game losing streak.
The Celtics grabbed their first lead of the night midway through the second frame to climb out of a 15-point deficit and never looked back on their way to a 47-point quarter and a 75-61 advantage at the break.
Boston's largest margin was 28 points on the back of hitting 20-of-39 from behind the arc for a 51% clip, compared to the Pacers' 18-of-44 from long distance.
Indiana showed some signs of life late in the third and down 24, when McConnell and Jordan Walsh (illness) -- who returned from a one-game absence -- got into a skirmish. On Hauser's lone 3-point miss of the evening, the long-rebound ended up in the hands of Pritchard for a putback layup, but not before Walsh slightly pushed off McConnell to which the Pacers guard immediately pushed Walsh back.
While both players were assessed technical fouls, an Indy rally seemed unlikely despite McConnell hitting back-to-back buckets afterwards to get the home crowd to come alive again.
The Celtics continue their five-game road-trip Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers (12-19).
Game Notes:
The Celtics knocked down 57% of their attempts from the field to Indiana's 49% from the floor. Boston out-rebounded the Pacers 43-35, but were outscored in the paint 42-38. Both teams committed 14 turnovers each.
Joel Pavón
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