The Boston Celtics will look to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season when they oppose the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The Celtics are coming off losses to the host Orlando Magic (108-104) and the visiting 76ers (118-114). The setback against Philadelphia dropped Boston’s home record to 11-5 and gave the reigning NBA champions one more home defeat than they had during the 2023-24 regular season, when they finished 37-4 at TD Garden.
“We’re playing inconsistent basketball, so we’ve got to be better at both ends of the floor,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Got to be more consistent at both ends of the floor.”
The Christmas Day defeat to the 76ers meant the Celtics took back-to-back losses for the first time this season. They are 3-4 in their past seven outings.
“I think that’s a fair criticism from (Mazzulla),” Al Horford said of the coach calling the team inconsistent. “I just think that we have to really dive into our work a little more and understand that we can’t relax during periods of the game, no matter the circumstance. We have to make sure that we’re a little better in that regard, and with this group I know that we’re capable of getting it together.
“Now, we have to look at this opportunity to play Indiana and come out and have a better performance with the effort and the intensity that it requires.”
Health continues to be an issue for the Celtics, who didn’t have Jrue Holiday (shoulder) for the Wednesday loss and then lost Kristaps Porzingis to an ankle injury in the first half. Both are listed as questionable for Friday’s game.
“We’ve got to be better,” Boston star Jayson Tatum said. “It’s still a long season. Nobody’s panicking. We’ve got to navigate the emotional roller coaster of the NBA season. It feels a lot worse than it actually is. We’re not panicking or anything. We’ve just got to man up and look in the mirror and figure out some things that we’ve got to do better at.”
Indiana will attempt to beat Boston for the second time this season. On Oct. 30, Pascal Siakam made six 3-pointers, one of which broke a tie with 6.1 seconds to play in overtime, giving the Pacers a 135-132 victory over the Celtics in Indianapolis.
Unlike Boston, Indiana was playing some of its best basketball recently, but the Pacers’ five-game winning streak ended with a 120-114 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
The Pacers could be without Obi Toppin against Boston. The forward sprained his left ankle in the first quarter against the Thunder and was helped off the court. He returned for four minutes in the second quarter but didn’t play in the second half.
“It didn’t seem like it was that bad initially, then he felt it when he went back out,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “I certainly assume he’ll miss (the game against Boston) and we’ll see. He’s been a guy who’s bounced back quick.”
The Celtics and Pacers will also meet Sunday in Boston.