Boston Celtics (49-33, fourth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Indiana Pacers (48-34, fifth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season)
Indianapolis; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Boston leads series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Celtics visit the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Celtics won the last meeting 99-91. Kyrie Irving scored 37 points to lead Boston to the win and Bojan Bogdanovic totaled 23 points in the loss for Indiana.
The Pacers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Indiana is the best team in the Eastern Conference in team defense, giving up 104.7 points and holding opponents to 45 percent shooting.
The Celtics are 21-20 on the road. Boston ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 26.3 assists per game, led by Irving averaging 6.9.
TOP PERFORMERS: Myles Turner is shooting 48.7 percent and averaging 13.3 points. Bogdanovic has averaged 16.5 points and added 3.8 rebounds while shooting 39.7 percent over the last 10 games for Indiana.
Al Horford leads the Celtics with 6.7 rebounds and averages 13.6 points. Irving has averaged 17.5 points and added three rebounds while shooting 31.9 percent over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 107.2 points, 46 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.3 points on 43.5 percent shooting.
Pacers: 3-7, averaging 103.9 points, 41.5 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting.
Pacers Injuries: Victor Oladipo: out for season (ruptured right quadricep tendon).
Celtics Injuries: Marcus Smart: out (oblique).
