Game ID: 22500559
Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers
Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 19 34 26 19 98BOS 24 32 21 19 96
BOS @ IND ScoutingBOS @ 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.
IND availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 32 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 18 min since (82% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 33 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 12/27 after 19, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (93% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 18 min (98% of 18)
OUT Toppin missed 34 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 8 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 20 min since (92% of 21)
IND availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 35 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 9 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/31 after 11, 21 min since (99% of 21)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 18 min since (98% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 36 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 20 min since (111% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 37 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 11 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 18 min since (101% of 18)
IND availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 6 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 38 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 12 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 6 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 19 min since (101% of 18)
NEW Furphy 18 to 24 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/17 · back-to-backOUT Mathurin missed 7 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 39 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 13 since 12/23, returns tonight: 17 min (99% of 17)
OUT Peter missed 7 since 1/04, returns tonight: 17 min (128% of 13)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 2, 17 min since (94% of 18)
NEW Furphy 18 to 23 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 8 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 40 since 10/29, out tonight
BACK Isa. Jackson back 1/17 after 13, 17 min since (99% of 17)
BACK Peter back 1/17 after 7, 17 min since (128% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 17 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Minott back 1/03 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 16)
BOS availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Boucher missed 18 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Minott back 1/03 after 4, 3 min since (18% of 16)
BOS availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 19 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Garza 16 to 21 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/10 · back-to-backOUT Minott missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 20 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Garza 16 to 22 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 4 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 21 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Garza 16 to 22 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/15 · 2 days' restOUT Minott missed 5 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 22 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Garza 16 to 21 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 23 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Hauser 25 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Garza 16 to 22 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 7 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 24 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Hauser 25 to 31 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Minott missed 8 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 25 since 11/26, out tonight
NEW Hauser 25 to 30 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 21 a game. Without Mathurin (4 straight), Toppin (36 straight), Isa. Jackson (10 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and White at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Minott (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Boston 116, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
1/04 @ ORL 127-135 — IND notes
IND lost 127-135. IND shot 55% (48 of 87) to ORL's 56%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ORL's 34. Siakam led with 34 (14 of 21, 2 of 4 from three); Nesmith added 25, Nembhard 20. Q1 was theirs, 36-28, but the other 3 periods went 107-91 against them. They led by as many as 12. Siakam's -12 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs CLE 116-120 — IND notes
IND lost 116-120. IND shot 46% (43 of 93) to CLE's 56%, 16 of 35 from three. IND turned it over 11 times to CLE's 19. The glass went 32-48 against them. Siakam led with 22 (9 of 23); Huff added 20, Nembhard 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-22, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. Huff's -14 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 @ CHA 114-112 — IND notes
IND won 114-112. IND shot 50% (41 of 82) to CHA's 45%, 12 of 27 from three. Siakam led with 30 (12 of 23, 3 of 4 from three); McConnell added 23, Nesmith 16. The hinge was Q1, 33-30: from level to 3 ahead.
1/10 vs MIA 123-99 — IND notes
IND won 123-99. IND shot 45% (44 of 98) to MIA's 39%, 17 of 40 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MIA's 29. Nembhard led with 29 (10 of 16, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Potter added 14, Walker 13. The hinge was Q1, 36-18: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
1/12 vs BOS 98-96 — IND notes
IND won 98-96. IND shot 46% (39 of 84) to BOS's 45%, 16 of 37 from three. Siakam led with 21 (10 of 15); Huff added 20, Nembhard 13. The hinge was Q3, 26-21: IND came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 2. IND trailed 53-56 at the half and won the second half 45-40. Huff was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/14 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mathurin (5 straight), Toppin (37 straight), Isa. Jackson (11 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 26 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 21 and Barnes at 20 a game. Without Barrett (2 straight), Poeltl (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 44 percent from three to Toronto's 26 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 14 times a game to Toronto's 10. Call it Indiana 114, Toronto 113, Toronto keeping it close.
1/16 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nembhard at 18 a game. Without Mathurin (6 straight), Toppin (38 straight), Isa. Jackson (12 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 30 and Williamson at 22 a game. Without Jones (5 straight), Murray (13 straight), Alvarado (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-3 and the defense, Indiana allowing 108 a night to New Orleans's 117. Call it Indiana 116, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/17 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 99, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 22 and Robinson at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 19 a game. Without Mathurin (7 straight), Toppin (39 straight), Isa. Jackson (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-6 a night and Indiana plus-0 and the defense, Detroit allowing 99 a night to Indiana's 108. Call it Detroit 115, Indiana 107.
1/19 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Embiid at 26 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Nembhard at 19 a game. Without Mathurin (8 straight), Toppin (40 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the line, where Philadelphia takes 25 free throws a game to Indiana's 20. Call it Philadelphia 115, Indiana 110.
1/05 vs CHI 115-101 — BOS notes
BOS won 115-101. BOS shot 40% (42 of 104) to CHI's 44%, 20 of 52 from three. Simons led with 27 (9 of 16, 8 of 14 from three); Pritchard added 21, Brown 14. The hinge was Q1, 31-14: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/07 vs DEN 110-114 — BOS notes
BOS lost 110-114. BOS took 8 more shots (95 to 87), fed by 21 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to DEN's 45%, 15 of 38 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 24. BOS turned it over 14 times to DEN's 7. The glass went 53-39 for them. Brown led with 33 (14 of 29, 4 of 6 from three); White added 17, Pritchard 17. Q1 was theirs, 35-31, but the other 3 periods went 83-75 against them. Queta's -16 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/09 vs TOR 125-117 — BOS notes
BOS won 125-117. BOS shot 54% (47 of 87) to TOR's 49%, 14 of 28 from three, and went to the line 19 times to TOR's 10 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. Pritchard led with 27 (12 of 19, 3 of 5 from three); Brown added 25, Hauser 19. The hinge was Q1, 37-30: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/10 vs SAS 95-100 — BOS notes
BOS lost 95-100. BOS shot 41% (38 of 93) to SAS's 40%, 16 of 44 from three, and got to the line just 4 times against 18 fouls committed. White led with 29 (11 of 26, 5 of 17 from three); Brown added 27, Garza 11. Q1 was theirs, 26-21, but the other 3 periods went 79-69 against them. Garza's -14 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 @ IND 96-98 — BOS notes
BOS lost 96-98. BOS shot 45% (40 of 88) to IND's 46%, 9 of 35 from three. Pritchard led with 23 (10 of 22, 3 of 7 from three); White added 18, Simons 16. Q1 was theirs, 24-19, but the other 3 periods went 79-72 against them.
1/15 @ 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 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 22 and Herro at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 12 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Pritchard at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Minott (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Miami minus-6 and the turnovers, Miami giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
1/17 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 20 and Johnson at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Risacher (4 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Simons at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Minott (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Atlanta minus-5. Call it Atlanta 114, Boston 113, Boston keeping it close.
1/19 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 93, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 18 and Robinson at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Hauser at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Minott (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 93 a night to Boston's 107 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 12. Call it Detroit 112, Boston 108, Boston keeping it close.
1/21 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 32 and Hauser at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Minott (8 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 18 a game. Without Mathurin (9 straight), Toppin (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 104 a night to Indiana's 113. Call it Boston 115, Indiana 106.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BS B. Sheppard
JF J. Furphy
JH J. Huff
JW J. Walker
MP M. Potter
PS P. Siakam
QJ Q. Jackson
TM T. McConnell
BOSAS A. Simons
BS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
HG H. González
JW J. Walsh
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
IND/BOS 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
Pascal Siakam and Pacers nip Celtics 98-96 for 1st 3-game win streak of season
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Pascal Siakam scored 21 points, including the decisive 7-foot bank shot with 6.1 seconds remaining, and the Indiana Pacers won three straight games for the first time this season, beating the Boston Celtics 98-96 on Monday night.
Boston's Derrick White missed a go-ahead 3-point attempt in the final seconds. He had tied the game at 96-all on a driving layup with 28.6 seconds remaining.
Siakam pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through in the final seconds. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.
The Pacers began the night with the NBA's worst record but improved to 9-31, one-half game better than the New Orleans Pelicans . They were without forward Bennedict Mathurin (17.8 points per game), sidelined by a thumb injury for a fifth consecutive game.
Jay Huff had 20 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Pacers.
Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points and eight assists. White had 18 points and Anfernee Simons 16.
The Celtics didn't have leading scorer Jaylen Brown , who sat out with lower back spasms and earlier Monday was fined $35,000 for criticizing referees. Brown's 29.5-point average ranks sixth in the NBA.
This was the start of a four-game trip for the Celtics, who are third in the Eastern Conference at 24-15.