Celtics and Pacers take different routes after star Achilles injuries

According to Cbssports, as the Celtics and Pacers prepare to meet Wednesday night, they have followed distinct paths after Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum (torn on May 12 in Game 4 of a second-round playoff series against the Knicks) and Tyrese Haliburton (torn six weeks later in Game 7 of the NBA Finals).

Nine months on, Boston has been more competitive than expected: the Celtics enter Tuesday's matchup 26-16 and in the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference after trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday in the offseason. Jaylen Brown is posting career highs (29.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists) and leads the league in made shots per game (10.9); Payton Pritchard and Derrick White have increased production, Boston ranks third in open 3s and ninth in converting them (34.8%), takes the second-most 3s overall and has the second-best offense at the time of writing.

Anfernee Simons has improved efficiency and defense in a bench role (fourth-best plus-minus, +4.0), raising questions about his status at the Feb. 5 trade deadline and whether a healthy Tatum would prompt a playoff push. Indiana, by contrast, sits 10-34 and near the bottom of the conference as it pursues a longer rebuild: the Pacers own the second-worst record, recently snapped a 13-game losing streak in early January and allowed 152 points to the Utah Jazz in one game.

Key Topics

Sports, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Jaylen Brown