Game ID: 22500403
Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics
Monday, December 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 26 17 31 29 103IND 35 26 21 13 95
BOS vs IND ScoutingBOS vs IND Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 12/11 · 3 days' restOUT Boucher missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/04 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 16)
NEW Walsh 17 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Garza missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Walsh 17 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Garza missed 3 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Walsh 17 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/20 · back-to-backOUT Garza missed 4 since 12/07, returns tonight: 26 min (166% of 16)
OUT Boucher missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Walsh 17 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/20 after 4, 26 min since (166% of 16)
BOS availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Boucher missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/20 after 4, 25 min since (162% of 16)
NEW González 14 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/20 after 4, 26 min since (165% of 16)
NEW González 14 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/20 after 4, 22 min since (142% of 16)
NEW González 14 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 15 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Garza back 12/20 after 4, 21 min since (137% of 16)
NEW González 14 to 25 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Nesmith missed 12 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 17 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 21 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson-Earl missed 2 since 12/05, not on tonight's roster
OUT Wiseman missed 22 since 10/26, out tonight
BACK Furphy back 12/03 after 14, 14 min since (78% of 18)
IND availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 13 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 18 since 11/05, returns tonight: 8 min (44% of 18)
OUT Toppin missed 22 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Wiseman missed 23 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Furphy back 12/03 after 14, 11 min since (61% of 18)
NEW Huff 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Mathews 13 to 20 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Nesmith missed 14 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 23 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Wiseman missed 24 since 10/26, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Furphy back 12/03 after 14, 12 min since (63% of 18)
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/14 after 18, 8 min since (44% of 18)
NEW Mathews 13 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 15 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 24 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 3 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Wiseman missed 25 since 10/26, returns tonight: 15 min (101% of 15)
OUT Peter missed 4 since 12/08, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/14 after 18, 18 min since (96% of 18)
NEW Huff 21 to 26 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 16 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 6 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 25 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 4 since 12/12, returns tonight: 1 min (4% of 17)
OUT Peter missed 5 since 12/08, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 13)
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/14 after 18, 17 min since (95% of 18)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 15 min since (101% of 15)
IND availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Nesmith missed 17 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 7 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 26 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Bradley missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/14 after 18, 17 min since (93% of 18)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 1 min since (4% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (92% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 1 min since (5% of 13)
IND availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Nesmith missed 18 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 8 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 27 since 10/29, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/14 after 18, 15 min since (83% of 18)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 1 min since (6% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 1 min since (7% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 11)
IND availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Nesmith missed 19 since 11/15, returns tonight: 19 min (65% of 30)
OUT Sheppard missed 9 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 28 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (17% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (22% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 11)
IND availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 10 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 29 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 19 min since (65% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 17)
BACK Wiseman back 12/20 after 25, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Peter back 12/22 after 5, 3 min since (23% of 13)
BACK Bradley back 12/23 after 2, 7 min since (62% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and White at 23 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Nesmith (16 straight), Sheppard (6 straight), Toppin (25 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-6 and the arc, Boston at 35 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Boston 117, Indiana 108.
12/11 @ MIL 101-116 — BOS notes
BOS lost 101-116. BOS took 9 more shots (88 to 79), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to MIL's 58%, 14 of 49 from three, and went to the line 25 times to MIL's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. Brown led with 30 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Walsh added 20, Pritchard 11. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 87-66 against them. They led by as many as 14. Pritchard's -21 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs DET 105-112 — BOS notes
BOS lost 105-112. BOS shot 46% (38 of 82) to DET's 46%, 10 of 39 from three. Brown led with 34 (13 of 25, 1 of 5 from three, 7 of 14 at the line); White added 31, Pritchard 12. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 12. White's -16 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs MIA 129-116 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-116. BOS shot 54% (44 of 82) to MIA's 39%, 21 of 43 from three. White led with 33 (11 of 20, 9 of 14 from three); Brown added 30, Hauser 15. The hinge was Q4, 37-27: a lead of 3 became 13, and the lead reached 19. White was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/20 @ TOR 112-96 — BOS notes
BOS won 112-96. BOS shot 46% (44 of 95) to TOR's 41%, 12 of 39 from three. The glass went 55-37 for them. Pritchard led with 33 (13 of 24, 4 of 9 from three); White added 15, Simons 15. The hinge was Q4, 29-16: a lead of 3 became 16. BOS trailed 49-51 at the half and won the second half 63-45. González was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
12/22 vs IND 103-95 — BOS notes
BOS won 103-95. BOS shot 43% (38 of 89) to IND's 39%, 11 of 37 from three. The glass went 49-36 for them. Brown led with 31 (11 of 25, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); White added 19, Pritchard 11. The hinge was Q4, 29-13: BOS came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 8. BOS trailed 43-61 at the half and won the second half 60-34. González was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/26 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 113, shooting 41 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (18 straight), Sheppard (8 straight), Toppin (27 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and White at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Indiana minus-7 and the arc, Boston at 33 percent from three to Indiana's 27. Call it Boston 113, Indiana 108.
12/28 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Sharpe at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Holiday (19 straight), Grant (4 straight), Henderson (31 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and White at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Boston's 12 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Portland plus-1. Call it Boston 116, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
12/30 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 29 and George at 26 a game. Without Kessler (26 straight), Harkless (17 straight), Anderson (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 32 and White at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Minott (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Utah's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-2. Call it Boston 122, Utah 117.
1/01 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 21 and Westbrook at 19 a game. Without LaVine (7 straight), Sabonis (19 straight), Plowden (21 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Pritchard at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Minott (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Sacramento's 125 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Sacramento plus-0. Call it Boston 119, Sacramento 112.
12/12 @ PHI 105-115 — IND notes
IND lost 105-115. IND took 17 more shots (96 to 79), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to PHI's 44%, 13 of 38 from three, and got to the line 19 times to PHI's 43. IND turned it over 7 times to PHI's 12. Siakam led with 20 (8 of 18, 1 of 3 from three); Nembhard added 18, McConnell 15. Q3 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 5 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 88-73 against them. Nembhard's -25 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 vs WAS 89-108 — IND notes
IND lost 89-108. IND shot 37% (31 of 84) to WAS's 46%, 10 of 39 from three. The glass went 41-56 against them. Mathurin led with 15 (3 of 9, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Huff added 13, Walker 12. Q1 was theirs, 32-31, but the other 3 periods went 77-57 against them. Nembhard's -26 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs NYK 113-114 — IND notes
IND lost 113-114. IND shot 46% (43 of 93) to NYK's 47%, 11 of 34 from three. Nembhard led with 31 (12 of 19, 4 of 5 from three); Siakam added 26, Mathurin 16. Q1 was theirs, 36-25, but the other 3 periods went 89-77 against them. They led by as many as 16.
12/20 @ NOP 109-128 — IND notes
IND lost 109-128. IND took 9 more shots (94 to 85), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to NOP's 53%, 8 of 42 from three. Siakam led with 22 (6 of 14, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Furphy added 18, McConnell 16. Q2 was theirs, 22-20, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 108-87 against them. Mathurin's -32 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 @ BOS 95-103 — IND notes
IND lost 95-103. IND shot 39% (33 of 85) to BOS's 43%, 13 of 40 from three. The glass went 36-49 against them. Siakam led with 25 (9 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Nembhard added 20, Mathurin 16. Q1 was theirs, 35-26, but the other 3 periods went 77-60 against them. They led by as many as 20. Mathurin's -21 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 114, shooting 41 percent and 28 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (17 straight), Sheppard (7 straight), Toppin (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 20 and Kuzma at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (6 straight), Prince (21 straight), Nance (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 35 percent from three to Indiana's 28 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 11. Call it Indiana 112, Milwaukee 111, Milwaukee keeping it close.
12/26 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 113, shooting 41 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (18 straight), Sheppard (8 straight), Toppin (27 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and White at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Indiana minus-7 and the arc, Boston at 33 percent from three to Indiana's 27. Call it Boston 113, Indiana 108.
12/27 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 21 and Ware at 19 a game. Without Herro (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Nesmith (19 straight), Sheppard (9 straight), Toppin (28 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-6 and the arc, Miami at 36 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Miami 119, Indiana 111.
12/29 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and McConnell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sheppard (10 straight), Toppin (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-8 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Houston 121, Indiana 109, Houston by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAS A. Simons
BS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
GO Gonzalez
HG H. González
JB J. Brown
JM J. Minott
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
INDAN A. Nembhard
BM B. Mathurin
ET E. Thompson
GM G. Mathews
IJ I. Jackson
JF J. Furphy
JH J. Huff
JW J. Walker
JW J. Wiseman
KJ K. Jones
PS P. Siakam
QJ Q. Jackson
TP T. Peter
BOS/IND the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jaylen Brown scores 31 points as Celtics rally past Pacers 103-95
BOSTON -- — Jaylen Brown scored 14 of his game-high 31 points in the final quarter and the Boston Celtics rallied from a 20-point, second-half deficit for a 103-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Derrick White finished with 19 points, and Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons each had 11 for Boston, which won its third straight game.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 25 points, and Andrew Nembhard had 20. Indiana, the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting team, missed 19 of its 20 attempts from beyond the arc in the second half in its fifth straight loss.
Brown’s best shot in the final quarter came on an off-balance 3 right in front of Boston’s bench, pushing the Celtics ahead 96-91 with 2:25 to play.
Nembhard’s 3-point play with 3:49 left had tied it at 91.
Trailing 82-74 entering the fourth, Boston went on an 11-2 spree, taking its first lead since the first half on Brown’s reverse layup.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters early in the second half with the Pacers up 69-49.
The Celtics whittled the Pacers’ edge to eight points after three. Brown and White reentered with a minute left in the third quarter.
Brown was out due to an illness in Boston’s last game, a victory at Toronto on Saturday , when Pritchard scored 33 points.
Coming off a 19-point loss at home against New Orleans on Saturday, the Pacers hit 60% (12 of 20) of their 3-point attempts in the first half and led 61-43 at the break. Boston, meanwhile, came in second in the league with 15.7 made 3s per game and was just 5 of 18 in the opening half.
The loss delayed Rick Carlisle’s run to his 1,000th NBA head coaching victory. The Pacers have lost five straight since beating the Sacramento Kings 116-105 on Dec. 8, and Carlisle stands at 999 victories over 24 seasons.