NBA: Celtics build 23-point lead in 1st half, coast past Pacers

Jaylen Brown delivered a standout performance with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 119-104 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Brown shot 11 of 22 from the field, but also had a game-high five turnovers. Sam Hauser added 17 points for Boston, connecting on 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Neemias Queta contributed 17 points and nine rebounds in the win.

The Celtics improved to 3-1 in their last four games, making 12 of 31 three-point attempts and shooting 47.7% overall (42 of 88).

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 32 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Siakam has now scored at least 20 points in five straight games and in 12 of his last 13 outings.

Jarace Walker scored 19 points and Johnny Furphy added 10, the only other Pacers in double figures. Indiana shot 37 of 94 from the field (39.4%) and 12 of 45 from three-point range.

Aaron Nesmith struggled for the Pacers, missing all four of his three-point attempts and finishing with just six points. He is now 2 for 26 from beyond the arc over his last four games.

The loss dropped Indiana to 2-19 on the road, and they have now lost three straight and four of their last five.

The game was tied 18-all before Boston closed the first quarter on a 12-2 run, taking a 30-20 lead after 12 minutes.

Boston extended the lead early in the second quarter, capped by a Queta tip-in that completed a 15-0 run and put the Celtics up 55-32 with 3:54 remaining. Boston led 66-46 at halftime, shooting 8 of 17 from three-point range in the first half while limiting Indiana to 38.3% shooting (18 of 47).

Indiana attempted a comeback in the third quarter, going on a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to 83-72 with 2:46 remaining. A Ben Sheppard three-pointer later pulled the Pacers within nine at 85-76 with 1:42 left in the period. Boston entered the fourth quarter ahead 91-78.

Boston then pushed the lead back to double digits early in the fourth, with a Jaylen Brown layup ending an 8-0 run and extending the lead to 107-88 with 6:07 remaining.

The Celtics held on to secure the 119-104 win.

—Field Level Media/Reuters