Boston, MA
Celtics at Pacers, Game 4 preview: Boston out for a sweep in Indiana, but knows firsthand this isn’t over – The Boston Globe
If any team understands that a 3-0 series lead isn’t entirely safe, it’s these Celtics, who roared back from a 3-0 deficit against the Heat in last year’s Eastern Conference finals to force a Game 7, only to watch an early ankle injury to Jayson Tatum derail their comeback.
But as close as the 2023 Celtics came, becoming only the fourth team in NBA history to even force a Game 7, they ultimately became the 154th consecutive team to lose a series after falling behind 3-0.
“We’ve met every challenge,” Jayson Tatum said after the Celtics improved to 11-2 in these playoffs. “We’re in great position right now, one win away from the finals. But we can’t look past Monday or anything like that, and we have a special opportunity to go back to the finals.”
The Celtics will still be without Kristaps Porzingis, who has been ruled out, while Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton is listed as questionable with a left hamstring injury he suffered in the third quarter of Game 2, which forced him to miss all of Game 3. Luke Kornet (wrist sprain) and Jrue Holiday (illness) are both listed as questionable. Holiday was questionable for Game 3 but ended up playing and coming up with some of the game’s biggest plays.
The Pacers aim to avoid the fate that befalls 61 percent of teams that fall down 3-0: getting swept.
“We’re not going to be deterred,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re going to be back here Monday night looking to extend the series and we’re going to come at it even harder. We have to. We don’t have a choice . . . Believe me, we are going after them.”
With a victory, the Celtics would reach their second NBA Finals in three seasons.
When: Monday, 8 p.m.
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
TV, radio: ESPN, ESPN2, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -7.5. O/U: 222.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 75-20. vs. spread: 49-42, 4 pushes. Over/under: 51-44
Last 10 games: 9-1. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 7-3
PACERS
Season record: 55-43. vs. spread: 53-42, 3 pushes. Over/under: 53-45
Last 10 games: 4-6. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 7-3
TEAM STATISTICS (2022-23 season)
Points per game: Boston 117.9, Indiana 116.3
Points allowed per game: Boston 111.4, Indiana 119.5
Field goal percentage: Boston .475, Indiana .469
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .463, Indiana .485
3-point percentage: Boston .377, Indiana .367
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .345, Indiana .373
Stat of the day: 90 percent of best-of-seven series end in four or five games when one team leads 3-0
Notes: The Pacers and Celtics are the two highest-scoring teams in the playoffs, with Indiana averaging 114.6 points per game and Boston putting up 111.8 . . . The Pacers are shooting 51 percent overall in the playoffs, the highest mark in the league . . . The Celtics lead all playoff teams with 39.5 3-point attempts per game . . . Both conference finals have never ended in sweeps in the same year in NBA history. The Mavericks lead the Western Conference finals, 3-0, after beating the Timberwolves on Sunday.
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com.
The Boston Red Sox lost 4-3 to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, but all might not be lost for rookie and top prospect Kristian Campbell.
Campbell hit his first major league home run in the defeat, and now he’s reportedly working on a contract extension.
Per Chris Cotillo of MassLIVE:
On the night he hit his first major league home run, Kristian Campbell and the Red Sox are in deep talks on a contract extension, according to multiple sources.
On the night he hit his first major league home run, Kristian Campbell and the Red Sox are in deep talks on a contract extension, according to multiple sources.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 30, 2025
At this time, we don’t have any idea on the kind of numbers being exchanged, but considering Campbell is already under contract for six years, any deal would figure to buy out at least one or two of his possible free agent years.
Team’s will often try to lock up young players to pre-arbitration deals, but the success rate is hit or miss. The Atlanta Braves have had great success doing this, signing Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies to team friendly deals. Under new Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, the Red Sox have done this with Ceddanne Rafaela and Brayan Bello both.
Campbell is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. He hit .330 last year in the minor leagues, only appearing in 19 games at the Triple-A level before earning his major league call-up this year.
The Red Sox are 1-2 on the young season and will finish out the series with the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon at 2:35 p.m. ET. But will Campbell have a new deal before the time first pitch is thrown?
ANOTHER REHAB START: Brayan Bello, on the shelf for the Boston Red Sox, will pitch for Triple-A Worcester. Here are the details. CLICK HERE:
FORMER ALL-STAR BACK TO SEATTLE: Drew Pomeranz, 36, didn’t make the Mariners out of spring training, but he’s back in the organization on a minor league deal. CLICK HERE:
WS CHAMP TO REHAB AT TRIPLE-A: Lance McCullers, who is a two-time World Series champ for the Astros, is working his way back. CLICK HERE:
Boston police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in connection to a series of vandalism incidents targeting Tesla vehicles.
They released two photos of the suspect on Saturday, saying the individual is believed to be connected to multiple incidents of vandalism and harassment in the area of Hemenway and Gainsborough streets. The incidents have primarily targeted Tesla vehicles, they said, and have occurred between 5-7 a.m. from March 11-19.
No further details about the incidents were released.
BPD Community Alert: District D-4 Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance in Identifying Individual Linked to Multiple Vandalism Incidents https://t.co/PpbcSyC1Il pic.twitter.com/34dTBIETvv
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) March 29, 2025
Boston police are asking anyone with information to call detectives at 617-343-9540. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the CrimeStoppers Tip Line by calling 1-800-494-TIPS, texting the word “TIP” to 27463 or online. Photos and videos related to the investigation can also be submitted anonymously via CrimeStoppers.
The 54-19 Boston Celtics will make the trip to Texas’ Frost Bank Center to face the 31-41 San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, March 29, as their last and longest road trip of the NBA’s 2024-25 regular season continues. The Celtics are looking to add to their current 7-game win streak (the second longest in the league) against the Spurs, while San Antonio is just looking to get back in the win column after dropping their last 2 contests.
Health for both teams is trending up in terms of players not out for the season, with a key Boston star now absent from the injury report after a scary turned ankle for Jayson Tatum. The Celtics should win easily, but the Spurs are no longer a team safe to mail it in against.
Let’s take a look at player health for both teams, likely starters, and how to watch or stream the game.
Player injuries
For the Celtics, Payton Pritchard (hip), Al Horford (toe), and Xavier Tillman Sr. (knee) are questionable.
For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama (shoulder), De’Aaron Fox (finger), and Charles Bassey (knee) are out.
Probable starting lineups
Boston
- Derrick White
- Jrue Holiday
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
San Antonio
- Stephon Castle
- Chris Paul
- Devin Vassell
- Harrison Barnes
- Bismack Biyombo
How to watch or stream the game
Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:
- Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: NBA TV, NBC Sports Boston
- Live Stream: Fubo (watch for free)
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