The Boston Celtics are currently on a two-game losing streak. Surprisingly, these two losses came against the short-handed Orlando Magic and the struggling Philadelphia 76ers. It’s so out of character for the defending champions. Tonight, they take on the Indiana Pacers, whom they clean swept 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. So, the question for tonight is, will Jayson Tatum & Co. end their losing streak or will the Pacers seek revenge? Above all, will JT suit up for the action?

During the loss against the Magic, the team ruled out Tatum minutes before the tip-off, citing a non-Covid illness. In the next game which is the Christmas Day challenge against the Philly side, JT laced up and dropped 32 points with 15 rebounds in a losing cause. And, the answer to the above question is, that the team has listed him on the injury report, so he’s cleared to play tonight. However, the team does have a few players who would miss the Pacers’ challenge.

Firstly, it’s Kristaps Porzingis. The 7 ‘3 big man came into the season with a delayed debut, recovering from a surgery in his right leg. Not even a month into his return, he suffered an ankle injury in the last game. So, the team has listed him in the Questionable category, citing ankle soreness. Apart from him, the team also listed the 2x NBA Champ Jrue Holiday in the Questionable category right, citing shoulder impingement.

The star also missed the Christmas Day game for the same reason. The star is most likely lace up for tonight’s game. Anyway, the team hasn’t listed any other apart from these two stars. On the other hand, the Pacers have a stacked injury report:

• Obi Toppin (Questionable) – Ankle
• Aaron Nesmith (Out) – Ankle
• Isaiah Jackson (Out) – Achilles
• James Wiseman (Out) – Achilles

Jayson Tatum & Co: Starting Lineup and Depth Chart

Without the presence of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the Celts still have an upper hand over the Pacers. Last night, the Pacers suffered an embarrassing loss against the OKC Thunder despite leading the game entirely throughout the first half. One of the main reasons for the loss was the no-show from Tyrese Haliburton. Additionally, the team lost its ace second-unit forward Obi Toppin to an ankle injury. So, the Celts can tank on their star power, Brown and Tatum, to get the job done.

Moreover, one of the strong aspects of the Pacers’ attack is their fast-paced offensive ability. The Celts need to watch out for their fast-break points in order to keep a check on them. Above all, the C’s have the home-court advantage. It’s almost impossible for a team to capture the TD Garden fortress. The team has all the conditions favoring them to end the two-game losing streak. Will the Pacers surprise the Celts? Let us know in the comments.