The Pacers just changed the story before tip. I have the final injury report in hand, and it is a jolt. T.J. McConnell is ruled out with left knee soreness. Rookie wing Johnny Furphy is available. The timing is late and the ripple is real. This matchup with the Celtics now tilts in new ways on the perimeter. Ball handling, defensive matchups, and second unit flow all shift right now.
Late scratch, fast stakes
McConnell is the heartbeat of Indiana’s second unit. He pushes tempo, sets a steady table, and picks pockets at the point of attack. His absence strips the Pacers of a trusted driver of bench offense and a pesky on-ball defender against Boston’s guards.
Furphy’s availability gives Rick Carlisle another long wing with shooting touch and real cutting instincts. That helps on the margins. It does not replace the control and craft that McConnell brings to the half court, especially when Tyrese Haliburton sits.
Pacers confirm T.J. McConnell is out with left knee soreness. Johnny Furphy is available to play tonight.
How Indiana patches the backcourt
Expect Carlisle to lean on staggered minutes for Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard. One of them should be on the floor at almost all times. Nembhard can run the bench groups, keeping sets simple, using high ball screens and early offense. Bennedict Mathurin will see more touches to drive, draw fouls, and collapse the defense.
Defense is the tougher fix. McConnell’s hands and angles bother ball handlers. Without him, Indiana must sit lower in a stance and contain dribble penetration as a group. Look for more nail help from the wings and harder tags in pick and roll. That trades steals for cleaner rebounds, but it may be the safest path.
- Ball handling: more Nembhard with bench units, added on-ball reps for Mathurin
- Stagger: longer first quarter run for Haliburton, shorter rest in the second
- Spacing: Aaron Nesmith’s corner volume matters, keeps lanes open
- Tempo: controlled pace with second unit to avoid live-ball turnovers
Where Furphy fits
Furphy can give Indiana size on the wing and a quick trigger from the arc. He runs the lane well and cuts behind ball watching defenders. Carlisle can deploy him for short stints to chase shooters and to keep the floor wide for Haliburton and Nembhard. If he sticks his first shot, he buys extra minutes. If not, his main job is solid defense and clean rotations.
What this means for Boston’s plan
The Celtics will smell opportunity in the non-Haliburton minutes. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White will press ball handlers, shade toward strong hands, and turn Indiana side to side. Expect early traps against high screens to force the ball out of Haliburton’s hands. Boston will bet on length and discipline to scramble behind the play.
On offense, Boston can hunt mismatches. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will attack closeouts, then post smaller guards. If Indiana overhelps, Boston’s spacing punishes late recoveries. Porzingis, if active, stretches Myles Turner to the perimeter, which opens slips and back cuts. If Porzingis sits, Al Horford’s short roll playmaking still bends help.
The key battle sits at the arc. If Indiana keeps its turnover rate low, it can run and score early. If Boston turns them over, it becomes a layup line the other way.
Fantasy and betting quick hits
This update shifts rotations and usage right away. The biggest winner is Nembhard, who should see more time with the ball. Mathurin gets a small uptick in drives and foul shots. Haliburton’s assist chances stay strong, but Boston will crowd him, so turnovers could rise. Myles Turner’s pick and roll volume should be steady, with a few more pocket passes as the Celtics blitz.
For Boston, White and Holiday have paths to extra stocks, the steals and blocks that swing fantasy matchups. Tatum and Brown remain steady volume scorers. Watch for a bench spark if Indiana collapses the paint. Sam Hauser cuts games open if left alone.
- Pacers bumps: Nembhard minutes, Mathurin drives, Nesmith threes
- Haliburton watch: high assists, careful with turnovers against pressure
- Celtics guards: White and Holiday strong for steals, assists, and plus-minus
- Live angle: non-Haliburton minutes favor Boston if turnovers spike
Set late swaps and monitor pregame warmups. Rotations can adjust again if Indiana tweaks the guard stagger at the horn.
Final word
This is a chess match on a clock. McConnell is out, and that removes a stabilizer from the Pacers’ second unit. Furphy is available, and his size and shooting might patch a wing gap for a few key minutes. Boston’s plan is clear, turn Indiana over and punish the breaks. Indiana’s answer is just as clear, keep the ball, trust the stagger, and let Haliburton steer. The tone of the night may be set by the first non-Haliburton stint. If the Pacers survive those minutes, we have a game. If not, the Celtics gain control fast. Tip is near, and the margins just got tighter.
