Entering Friday night, no Eastern Conference team had faced more opponents at or above .500 than the Boston Celtics, tied with the Orlando Magic at 19 such games apiece. But as the Celtics embark on their longest road trip of the season, that balance is about to shift.
The five-game trip spans nine days and more than 7,600 miles, beginning December 26 and ending January 3. And it comes against a noticeably softer stretch of competition. The combined records of Boston’s road opponents — the Pacers, Trail Blazers, Jazz, Kings, and Clippers — are just 43-105, with only two of the five teams (Trail Blazers and Jazz) reaching double-digit wins.
The road trip gives the Celtics an opportunity to build on their 18-11 record, create more separation in third place in the Eastern Conference, and put their early stumbles against inferior opponents behind them, provided they take care of business.
In the first stop of the trip, the Celtics did exactly that, cruising to an 18-point win over the Indiana Pacers. Four different Celtics scored 20 or more points, led by Jaylen Brown’s 30. Payton Pritchard followed with 29, Sam Hauser added 23, and Derrick White finished with 21.
With the win, Boston extended its winning streak to four games and has now won 15 of its last 20, 11 of its last 15, and eight of its last 10.
Here are seven takeaways from the victory.
Same story as Monday night
When the Celtics and the Pacers met on Monday night, the Pacers, who rank dead last in points (109.2), field goal percentage (42.9%), and three-point percentage (32.1%), scored 35 points behind eight made three-pointers at a 66.7% clip, building a double-digit first-quarter lead. Their eight threes were their most in any quarter this season.
Friday night followed a similar script. Indiana opened the game by hitting its first six three-point attempts and finished the quarter 7-of-12 (58.3%), totaling 39 points, its highest output in an opening quarter this season. Just like Monday, the Celtics responded, but this time they didn’t wait until the second half or a benching of the starters to take control.
Boston takes complete control in the second quarter
The Celtics responded to Indiana’s scoring surge with one of their own. Payton Pritchard led the charge with 14 points, while Derrick White and Jaylen Brown added 10 apiece, helping Boston score 47 points in the second quarter. They outscored the Pacers by 25 points, the largest margin they have held over an opponent in any quarter this season.
Their 47 points were the second-most the Celtics have scored in a single quarter this season. Boston shot 16-of-25 (64.0%) from the field and 6-of-12 (50%) from three, with seven of those baskets assisted. On the other end, they limited Indiana to just 22 points on 6-of-19 (31.6%) shooting from the field and 2-of-11 (18.2%) from three, while forcing five turnovers that led to nine points.
Baylor Scheierman played a pivotal role in the second-quarter turnaround, staying on the floor the entire frame. He finished with three points, five rebounds, and an assist while providing rock-solid defense, particularly on Pascal Siakam, who managed just two points (both from free throws), attempted only two shots (0-of-2 FG), and turned the ball over twice in the quarter. Scheierman finished the quarter a +25.
When discussing the growth of the team’s younger players, Scheierman can easily be overlooked. His numbers aren’t flashy, and he may not grab headlines, but the second-year wing consistently provides solid minutes and impact. His performance in the second quarter was a microcosm of that steady contribution.
Jaylen Brown continued his ridiculous December tear
Jaylen Brown knew what was at stake.
Up by 25 points late in the fourth quarter, with substitutions happening at the scorers’ table, Brown needed just three more points to extend his incredible streak of seven consecutive 30-point games.
As he crossed halfcourt and danced with Indiana’s Johnny Furphy around the perimeter, he knew he had a chance.
After a few dribble moves, Brown stepped back, created separation, and buried a three, smiling ear-to-ear as he jogged back on defense.
He has every reason to smile. With his eighth consecutive 30-point game, Brown is now one 30-point game away from tying Larry Bird’s franchise record of nine consecutive 30-point games. Brown hasn’t scored under 30 points since November 30, and in that game, he recorded a triple-double.
It’s been an incredible season for Brown, who is poised to earn his first accolade of the year as Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. Over the month, he has averaged 32.1 points (tied for the league lead) on 53.5% shooting from the field and 43.6% from three, along with 5.0 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals, helping the Celtics to a 6-2 record. He is the only player in the Eastern Conference averaging at least 30 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Sam Hauser is starting to heat up
It’s been an up-and-down season for Sam Hauser from beyond the arc. The fifth-year pro, who has never shot below 40% from three at any level — high school, college, G-League, or the pros — entered Friday shooting a career-low 35.7% from deep. After making seven of eight attempts (87.5%), tying his season high, his percentage jumped more than two points to 38.1%.
Hauser has now made 5+ threes in two of his last four games. He had just two such games in his first 26 games. He is shooting 16-of-26 (61.5%) over that stretch.
It was only a matter of time until Hauser found the consistency, it’s simply who he is. And when he is knocking down shots, it’s a good sign for the Celtics, who are 3-1 when Hauser makes 5+ threes this season, and 24-3 all-time when he makes 5+.
Luka Garza has played his way into more opportunity
After playing 14 of the first 15 games he was available for (missing one due to a concussion), it appeared Luke Garza had fallen out of the rotation.
In the nine games prior to last Saturday’s win over the Raptors, the big man totalled just 15:41 minutes, almost exclusively in garbage time. He was a DNP-CD in six of those nine games.
However, with the Celtics shorthanded in Toronto, Garza got a chance to play meaningful minutes and immediately made the most of it, scoring six points and grabbing five offensive rebounds while registering a +15 in his first stint back in the rotation. His impact led Coach Joe Mazzulla to keep relying on him, and Garza did not disappoint, finishing the night with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double (nine offensive rebounds) in a season-high 25 minutes.
His strong performance earned him another look on Monday against the Pacers, and once again, he delivered. Garza finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a block, playing a pivotal role in the Celtics’ second-half turnaround.
On Friday night, Garza saw 24 minutes for a third consecutive game, this time a season-high 26:38. He hadn’t surpassed 24 minutes all season before last Saturday in Toronto. Once again, he was rock-solid, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists, and a game-high +26, which also marked a new career-high.
Over his last three games, Garza has averaged 11.0 points on 68.8% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. His +61 plus-minus leads the team over that span, as do his 23 total rebounds and 16 (!) offensive rebounds.
We’ve seen players earn their way into minutes this season, with Jordan Walsh being the most obvious example. Garza could be following a similar path as he emerges as a legitimate option for the Celtics behind Neemias Queta.
Josh Minott was a DNP-CD
Seemingly due to Jordan Walsh returning to the starting lineup after missing the previous game with an illness, combined with strong performances from Garza and Scheierman, Josh Minott was a DNP-CD for the first time since the second game of the season.
A monster night from the backcourt
Payton Pritchard (29 points, nine rebounds, five assists) and Derrick White (21 points, six assists, five rebounds) combined for 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. The fact that this kind of production, highlighted by Pritchard’s 29-point performance, feels like one of the smaller storylines is a testament to both of them and their growth in their respective roles.
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