The Boston Celtics were already without Jaylen Brown (concussion) and Al Horford (illness) Sunday night. The visiting Indiana Pacers were playing good basketball since the All-Star Break.

The Celtics were going to require a total team effort to win. While they enjoyed a 10-point lead at halftime, fans began to get antsy when no one saw Kyrie Irving for the start of the third quarter. Irving was ruled out with left knee soreness. With no Kyrie in the second half, the Pacers proved to be too much for the undermanned Celtics. A late rally would come up just short, with Boston losing 99-97.