For the third time this season, the NBA schedule will bring the Boston Celtics (26-7; 16-15-2 ATS) and Indiana Pacers (19-14; 19-14-0 ATS) together. The first two meetings were split, with the home team winning comfortably each time. Does that bode well for the Pacers, who will host the game.

Celtics Showed a Rare Crack

Boston has the best record in the NBA, but the OKC Thunder took them down on Tuesday night. Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points, but that wasn’t enough to get the job done. So, this team that is second in offensive rating will try to get back on track in Indiana. Boston is fourth in true shooting percentage and attempts more threes than any team in the league. They’re fifth in rim efficiency too. Their turnover percentage is 10th, and the team’s offensive rebounding percentage is 11th. Boston doesn’t get to the free throw line often, but they make their attempts count. This is a lethal roster offensively, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Flipping to the other end of the court, they’re third in defensive rating, so there isn’t much of a drop-off. The Celtics are sixth in defensive rebounding percentage and allow the fewest free throw attempts per game. Porzingis has them second in rim defense and third in blocked shots percentage. The Celtics have holes though. They allow a lot of three-point attempts and struggle to force turnovers frequently. Still, getting buckets on this defense is tough.

Pacers Picking Up Steam

After consecutive wins against the Bucks, the Pacers began this weekend with a five-game winning streak. This team has the clearest identity in the NBA, and it’s powered by the league’s top offensive rating. Indiana averages the most points per game, aided by the second-fastest tempo. Tyrese Haliburton has Indiana first in true shooting percentage and seventh in turnover percentage. Their efficiency is top five from all three levels of the floor, while the Pacers also knock down free throws. Offensive rebounding is an issue, but when shots fall as frequently as Indiana’s, it doesn’t matter.

Yet, the Pacers need every point they can get because they also allow the second-most per game. That’s a consequence of owning a defensive rating that’s ranked 28th this season. Top-10 rim defense and the most blocks per game, led by Myles Turner, highlights what the Pacers do well defensively. Indiana also surrenders the fewest three-point attempts per game. Otherwise, they struggle to force misses outside of the paint, grab rebounds, force turnovers, or keep opponents off the free throw line. Indiana is all offense.