The Celtics may be facing a shorthanded Pacers team in the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament on Monday night in Indiana. Three key players including two starters were listed by the Pacers on the team’s injury report for Monday’s tilt including All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. The point guard missed Saturday’s game against the Heat with a knee injury and is listed as questionable due to an upper respiratory infection. Obi Toppin is also questionable after suffering a left ankle sprain in the Pacers win over the Heat. Jalen Smith has been ruled out with a left knee bone bruise.
The Pacers won Group A pool play and earned a No. 2 seed for Monday’s quarterfinal round so they will host the No. 3 seeded Celtics on their side of the quarterfinal bracket. The winner of the contest will advance to play the winner of a Knicks-Bucks matchup in Las Vegas on Thursday night. The loser will play a regular season game on Friday night in the consolation bracket. Boston would host the Knicks or Bucks at TD Garden on Friday if they fall on Monday night in that scenario.
The Celtics and Pacers tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday night from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a nationally televised matchup on ESPN.
The Celtics will also be shorthanded for the matchup as Kristaps Porzingis remains out due to a calf strain. Monday’s contest will be the fourth consecutive game he has missed for the injury that was set to be re-evaluated by Boston trainers over the weekend. Jayson Tatum will be back on the floor for Boston after the league handed out no further penalities after his ejection on Friday night.
Haliburton’s status looms quite large over the high-stakes matchup in the knockout round of the in-season tournament. The Celtics crushed the Pacers 155-104 back in November when Haliburton sat out that game with an injury. With Haliburton on the floor, Indiana has the best offense in the league this year. That could pose a stiff challenge to Boston’s top-ranked defense especially with Porzi
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