Honestly, if you looked at the standings before tip-off, you probably didn't give the Pacers a snowball's chance in hell. The Indiana Pacers entered their matchup against the Boston Celtics on January 12, 2026, with a dismal 8-31 record. They were sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Celtics were humming along at 24-14, looking like a juggernaut even with a few guys in suits on the bench. But the final Pacers game score tonight told a completely different story: Indiana 98, Boston 96.
It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exactly the kind of win a team needs when their season feels like it’s slipping into the abyss.
The Shocking Pacers Game Score Tonight Explained
Nobody expected a defensive struggle. Usually, these two teams like to run and gun, but tonight the hoops had lids on them. Indiana was playing without their heart and soul, Tyrese Haliburton, who is still recovering from that brutal Achilles injury from last summer. Without him, the offense has mostly been a "hope Pascal Siakam does something" strategy. Tonight, that strategy—along with some surprising help—actually worked.
Siakam was a man possessed. He put up 23 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, essentially willing the ball into the basket when the rest of the team was clanking shots off the front rim. But the real story? The bench. Specifically, Jay Huff. Yeah, you heard that right. Huff and T.J. McConnell provided the spark that kept the Fieldhouse from falling asleep in the first half.
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Why the Celtics Faltered
Boston wasn't exactly at full strength either. Jayson Tatum was out. Jaylen Brown was a late scratch with back soreness. When you take the two heads off the dragon, the body tends to flail around. Derrick White tried to pick up the slack, but the Pacers' defense—which has been statistically one of the worst in the league this year—suddenly decided to show up. They held Boston to under 100 points, a feat that feels almost impossible in the modern NBA.
The game came down to the final thirty seconds. Indiana held a slim lead, and the Celtics had two chances to tie or win. A missed three from Payton Pritchard and a frantic scramble for the rebound saw the clock bleed out.
Breaking Down the Box Score
If you're looking at the raw numbers, here’s how it shook out:
- Indiana Pacers: 98 points. They shot a mediocre percentage from deep, but they won the battle in the paint.
- Boston Celtics: 96 points. A uncharacteristic shooting night for a team that usually lights it up from the perimeter.
- Top Performer: Pascal Siakam. 23 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST. He’s the reason they didn't lose by twenty.
- The Surprise: Jay Huff’s defensive presence. He had two key blocks in the fourth quarter that shifted the momentum.
It wasn't pretty. It was basically a slugfest. But for a team that recently endured a 13-game losing streak, a win is a win, especially against the defending-caliber Celtics. This victory actually marks a three-game winning streak for Indiana, which is kinda wild considering where they were two weeks ago.
The Impact of Rick Carlisle
Coach Rick Carlisle just hit his 1,000th career win last week, and you can see the shift in the team’s discipline. They aren't turning the ball over as much. They are actually rotating on defense. It’s small stuff, but it adds up. Even without Haliburton, the Pacers are finding a weird, defensive identity that might just save their dignity this season.
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What This Means for Your Bets and Brackets
If you’re a betting person, you probably lost money tonight if you took the over. The total was set in the 220s, and they didn't even sniff 200. Indiana is becoming a "trap" team—they are bad enough that the spreads are huge, but they are scrappy enough to cover them, or even win outright like they did tonight.
What's next? The Pacers stay at home. They’ve got a four-game homestand, and the energy in Gainbridge Fieldhouse is finally starting to shift from "pity" to "maybe we can actually win this."
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Pacers' trajectory, keep an eye on the injury reports for Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard was questionable tonight with a back issue, but his return is crucial for their backcourt depth. Also, don't sleep on T.J. McConnell in fantasy leagues; his assist-to-turnover ratio during this little win streak has been elite.
The next game is Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors. If they can make it four in a row, we might actually have to stop calling them a lottery team for a week.
Check the local broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Indiana or catch the radio call on 93.5 FM. If you're out of market, NBA League Pass is your best bet to see if this defensive resurgence is the real deal or just a one-night fluke against a tired Celtics squad.