Celtics knock off Pacers for third straight win

 Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett (12) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Jan 12, 2022; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett (12) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 34 points, Jayson Tatum added 33 and the Boston Celtics completed a home-and-home sweep of the Indiana Pacers with a 119-100 win on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

Dennis Schroder contributed 23 points for Boston, which earned its third straight win after shooting an impressive 51.3 percent (40-of-78). It marks the Celtics’ first three-game win streak since Nov. 19-22.

The Celtics improved to 6-0 all-time when both Tatum and Brown score at least 30 points.

Myles Turner had 18 points to lead the Pacers. Domantas Sabonis added 17 points, Caris LeVert had 16 and Justin Holiday 13 for Indiana, which took a second straight loss and has dropped eight of nine overall.

The Celtics prevailed 101-98 in overtime against the Pacers to open the two-game set on Monday in Boston.

On Wednesday, the Celtics led 54-49 at halftime after leading by as many as 14 points in the opening half. Boston opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run to break the game open and went up by as many as 24 late in the fourth quarter.

Boston center Robert Williams III briefly left the game in the second half to get stitches above his left eye before returning. Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon was ruled out late in the second half with a sore right Achilles.

Meanwhile, Celtics starting guard Marcus Smart missed the game with a right thigh contusion. Smart exited Monday’s win after suffering the injury in the third quarter and did not return.

T.J. Warren missed the game for Indiana while in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. T.J. McConnell (right wrist) and Chris Duarte (personal reasons) were also sidelined for the Pacers.

Boston is at Philadelphia on Friday night before returning home for a four-game homestand. Indiana concludes its quick two-game homestand versus Phoenix on Friday night.

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