Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 44 points to help the Boston Celtics snap a two-game losing streak with a 142-105 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Brown shot 16 of 24 from the field, including 6 of 11 from three-point range, and made all six of his free throws. He also grabbed five rebounds, recorded three assists, and had four steals.
Jayson Tatum added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who made 23 of 57 three-pointers. Payton Pritchard contributed 18 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds off the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 19 points and nine assists, but Indiana never held the lead in the game. Bennedict Mathurin scored 18 points, and Pascal Siakam added 14. Off the bench, Jarace Walker had 15 points and five assists, and Thomas Bryant contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.
Boston’s 142 points marked their highest total of the season.
The game was tied 11-11 midway through the first quarter, but Boston then pulled away, finishing the first quarter with a 39-22 lead. Brown scored 15 points in the first 12 minutes, making all six of his field goals.
The Celtics extended their lead to 57-37 after a Tatum three-pointer with 3:38 left in the second quarter. Al Horford capped a 13-0 run with back-to-back three-pointers, giving Boston a 65-37 lead. They led 67-45 at halftime.
Brown finished the first half with 23 points, while Tatum had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Another Tatum three-pointer increased Boston’s lead to 95-63 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter. The Celtics led 103-78 entering the final quarter, and their advantage reached 38 points at its peak.
Both teams were missing key players. The Celtics played without Jrue Holiday (right shoulder impingement) and Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle sprain), while the Pacers were without Obi Toppin (left ankle sprain) and Andrew Nembhard (left knee injury management).
The two teams will play again on Sunday in Boston.
