A disastrous second quarter set up the Indiana Pacers for a frustrating loss to the Boston Celtics, sending them back under .500 heading into their Christmas break. The Pacers ended the first quarter on an 11-0 run, but went ice cold, leading to a 17-0 Celtics run to start the second, losing the quarter 29-9.
Things didn’t improve much early in the third, but they eventually picked up their scoring pace with C.J. Miles drawing them to within five in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to get the stops and rebounds necessary to finish off their comebacks.