Indiana Pacers Host Boston Celtics: Desperate Bid to Snap Home Losing Streak Amid Rough Season
On Friday, December 26, 2025, the Indiana Pacers (6-24) welcome the Boston Celtics (18-11) to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a 7:00 p.m. ET tip-off. The Pacers, mired in a six-game overall losing streak and a three-game home skid, are desperate for a win against a Celtics team riding a three-game winning streak. Boston enters as heavy favorites (8.5-point spread, over/under 221.5), having just beaten Indiana 103-95 on December 22 in Boston. This rematch offers the Pacers a chance at redemption, but the odds—and recent form—strongly favor the visitors.
Pacers’ Struggles: A Season Derailing Without Haliburton
The Pacers’ 2025-26 campaign has been a far cry from their surprising run to the NBA Finals last season. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who orchestrated much of that magic, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and is out for the entire year. His absence has gutted Indiana’s high-powered offense, dropping them to near the bottom of the league in scoring (around 109-110 points per game in recent outings).
Compounding the issue are additional injuries: forward Aaron Nesmith (knee), Obi Toppin (foot), and others have forced coach Rick Carlisle to rely on inexperienced or G League-level talent. Pascal Siakam remains the bright spot, averaging about 23.5-23.8 points per game, but the supporting cast—players like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and bench contributors—has struggled with consistency.
Recent results highlight the pain:
- December 22: Lost 95-103 at Boston (led early but collapsed in the second half).
- December 23: Fell 94-111 at home to Milwaukee (poor shooting, outrebounded badly).
- Earlier losses include blowouts like 109-128 at New Orleans.
Indiana’s defense ranks middling (allowing ~117 points), but their offense has plummeted without Haliburton’s playmaking. They’re shooting poorly from three and turning the ball over too often. At home, where they’ve lost three straight, the Pacers have shown flashes—jumping out to big leads—but can’t close games.
The three-game home losing streak includes defeats to strong teams, underscoring their vulnerability at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fans are frustrated, and Siakam has publicly voiced displeasure with the constant losing, emphasizing the need for better execution.
Celtics’ Resilience: Overcoming Their Own Challenges
Boston, defending their title aspirations despite key absences, sits third in the Eastern Conference. They’ve adapted without Jayson Tatum (Achilles injury from last season) by leaning on Jaylen Brown, who is having a career year (averaging ~29.4 points, often dropping 30+). Derrick White (18+ PPG), Payton Pritchard (16+ PPG off the bench), and big man Neemias Queta have stepped up.
The Celtics boast the league’s second-best defense (allowing ~110 points) and efficient scoring (~116 PPG). Their depth shines in comebacks, as seen in the December 22 win over Indiana: down 20 points, Brown scored 14 in the fourth to rally for victory.
Boston’s recent wins include gritty efforts against Toronto and a dominant stretch earlier in December. They’re 8-6 on the road and have covered spreads inconsistently but win games outright.
Head-to-Head and Key Matchups
This is the second meeting in five days. In the first:
- Boston overcame a hot Pacers start.
- Brown dominated late.
- Indiana shot poorly from three in the second half.
Key battles:
- Siakam vs. Boston’s frontcourt: Siakam will need 25+ points, but Queta and others rebound well.
- Pacers’ guards vs. White/Pritchard: Without Haliburton, Indiana lacks creation; Nembhard must facilitate.
- Bench production: Boston’s depth (Pritchard, rookies like Hugo Gonzalez) often swings games.
The Celtics average more threes and offensive rebounds, exploiting Indiana’s weaknesses.
Betting Odds and Predictions
- Spread: Celtics -8.5
- Total: 221.5 (lean over, as recent games hit high totals despite defenses)
- Moneyline: Boston heavy favorites (~ -350 or better)
Experts largely pick Boston to cover and win comfortably (predicted scores like 119-108). The Pacers’ losing streaks and injury woes make an upset unlikely, though home pride could keep it closer early.
Why the Pacers Could Pull Off the Upset
A motivated Siakam explosion, hot three-point shooting, and forcing turnovers could snap the home skid. Carlisle is nearing 1,000 wins—extra motivation?
But realistically, Boston’s talent edge and recent dominance over Indiana point to another road win.
This game encapsulates the Pacers’ tough season: flashes of potential drowned by absences and inconsistency. For Boston, it’s a chance to build momentum in a competitive East led by Detroit and New York.
Tip-off is 7 p.m. ET on FDSIN and NBCS-BOS. Pacers fans hope for a post-Christmas miracle; Celtics aim to spoil it.
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