Indianapolis, IN (My Sportsbook) - The
Boston Celtics try to rebound from their worst loss in franchise history Saturday when they travel to Indiana to square off with the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Celtics were absolutely destroyed at home by the Detroit Pistons on Friday, 118-66.
Boston, which had set the club mark for worst loss earlier in the season with a 114-69 defeat in Washington on Halloween night, shot just 29.9 percent from the field against Detroit and made only 12-of-19 free throws.
Paul Pierce had 23 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who have lost two in a row -- both to Detroit. Boston wasn't helped by forward Antoine Walker's return to the lineup. Walker had six points on 1-of-15 shooting after missing the previous four contests with an injured right knee.
J.R. Bremer finished with 10 points for the Celtics, who trailed by as much as 60 in the contest.
The Celtics are 10-11 on the road this season and 20-14 against the Eastern The Celtics are 10-11 on the road this season and 20-14 against the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Pacers have also dropped two straight on the heels of a four- game winning streak and are coming off a 102-90 setback in Toronto on Friday.
The Pacers were led by Brad Miller, who scored 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes. Jermaine O'Neal chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds and Ron Mercer scored 13 off the bench for Indiana.
Indiana head coach Isiah Thomas, Pacers forward Al Harrington and Toronto swingman Morris Peterson were all ejected from the game in the fourth quarter after an altercation escalated into pushing and shoving.
Harrington and Peterson were running down the court when their feet tangled and Harrington fell to the floor. Believing that he was tripped by Peterson, Harrington charged the Raptor and the two began to push and shove under the basket. Thomas entered the fray and angrily approached Peterson, but was restrained by Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens.
Indiana had a 14-game home winning streak snapped by San Antonio in its last contest at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers are still 21-2 at home this season and 23-8 against the Eastern Conference.
These teams met back on January 17 in Boston, with the Celtics claiming a 98-93 victory.
Boston has captured the last four meetings overall. However, the Celtics have dropped 10 of their last 12 in Indiana.