Celtics come back from impressive 20 point deficit to beat the Pacers

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 26, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics do not have Jayson Tatum in their lineup this season because of the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in the 2025 NBA postseason. However, the Celtics are still in the thick of things in the 2025-26 NBA season, and currently have the third best record in the Eastern Conference at 18 wins and 11 losses for a winning percentage of .621.

On Monday, the Celtics had an impressive comeback. They were down 69-49 to the Indiana Pacers with three minutes and one second into the second half before they outscored Indiana 54-26 the rest of the way en route to a 103-95 win. It was the 26th time in Celtics franchise history they came back from a 20 point deficit to win.

What we saw on Monday at the Toronto Dominion Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, was greatness from Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Georgia, the 2024 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award winner. He had 31 points to lead Boston. Three other Celtics players had double digits in points. Guard Derrick White of Parker, Colorado had 19 points, while point guard Payton Pritchard of Tualatin, Oregon, and shooting guard Anfernee Simons had 11 points each. Meanwhile, rookie small forward Hugo Gonzalez of Madrid, Spain led the Celtics with 11 rebounds in a reserve role.

It was a dominant second half for the Celtics. They outscored the Pacers 60-34. Meanwhile, it has been a disastrous season for Indiana. They have a record of six wins and 24 losses for a winning percentage of .200. The team is clearly missing star Tyrese Haliburton, who injured his Achilles in game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals, and won’t play at all this season.