Monday night’s In-Season Tournament quarterfinal game between the Celtics and
Monday night in the Hoosier State, the Indiana Pacers host the Boston Celtics in a quarterfinal contest in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.
At 15-4, the Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tie for the best record in the Association. The Pacers, 10-8, are sixth in the Eastern Conference.
These two squared off at TD Garden on Nov 1., a game where the hosts cruised to a 155-104 win, generating the second-most points in franchise history. It’s also their third-largest margin of victory since 2000.
But Tyrese Haliburton, the engine of the NBA’s highest-scoring offense, averaging 128.8 points per contest, didn’t suit up that night.
And while he entered Monday’s rematch listed as questionable on Indiana’s injury report due to an upper respiratory infection, during his pregame media availability, Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle shared that he expects the star guard to play, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Carlisle also said he expects forward Obi Toppin, who’s dealing with a left ankle sprain, to be available.
The only player out for the Celtics is Kristaps Porzingis, who will miss his fourth-straight game due to a left calf strain. However, the seven-foot-three center is nearing his return.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported it could happen Thursday if Boston advances to the In-Season Tournament semifinals in Las Vegas.
If the C’s lose against Indiana, they’ll host the loser of the quarterfinal tilt between the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. That contest would happen on Friday.
