Boston @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 11, 2019 ) Boston 117, Indiana 122

A pair of Eastern Conference contenders trending in opposite directions meet Tuesday in Indiana, where the host Pacers look to get closer in the standings to the slumping Boston Celtics. Indiana's 112-109 win at Dallas on Sunday gave the team eight victories in its last 10 games and pushed it into fifth place alone in the East, just 3 1/2 games back of the third-place Celtics.

"What a game by these guys; fifth game on a long road trip," Pacers coach Nate McMillan told reporters Sunday. ". ... They played like they wanted it and they got it. Great win for this group." Indiana was without star guard Malcolm Brogdon, who is week-to-week with a torn groin muscle, and key reserve Doug McDermott, but they shot 52.3 percent from the floor and got six players into double figures to finish the trip at 4-1. The Celtics have lost four of their last five following a 105-104 setback at home to Oklahoma City on Sunday. Gordon Hayward returned from a two-game layoff to score 24 points but Boston was outscored by 12 points in the second half to suffer its fourth straight home loss.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Boston, FS Indiana, TSN3

ABOUT THE CELTICS (42-21): Boston endured a 2-6 swoon in January but responded with a 14-3 surge, and the team is hopeful its response to the current slump will be just as forceful. "Most of our good teams go through stretches like this and usually two or three a year," coach Brad Stevens told reporters. "This is our second one. Hopefully we can nip that in the bud and not have a third one." After scoring at least 28 points in a seven-game stretch, All-Star forward Jayson Tatum has been held under 20 in consecutive games while shooting a combined 15-of-41.

ABOUT THE PACERS (39-25): All-Star Domantas Sabonis recorded 20 points and 17 rebounds Sunday to set a team record with his 50th double-double, tied for second in the NBA. T.J. Warren returned from a one-game layoff to score 16 points and Myles Turner matched him in that category while hauling in 13 rebounds. Victor Oladipo, who missed the first meeting with the Celtics while still recovering from a knee injury, struggled through a 6-of-18 shooting game against Dallas but scored the game's final six points and handed out a team-high seven assists.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics SG Jaylen Brown (hamstring) missed the last three games but is expected to return this week.

2. Pacers PG T.J. McConnell had 12 points and five assists in just 16 minutes Sunday and is 15-of-25 from the floor over his last three contests.

3. Indiana won the first matchup 122-117 on Dec. 11 despite a season-high 44 points by Boston PG Kemba Walker.

PREDICTION: Pacers 108, Celtics 106