Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The 4-3 Boston Celtics will host the 4-2 Indiana Pacers on Friday night in a battle for Eastern Conference supremacy. The Celtics have been atop the East for several years, but the young Pacers are looking to stake their claim as an up-and-coming team.

Since starting the season 0-3, the Celtics have bounced back with four straight victories and look much more like the team we have grown accustomed to seeing. Much of that is probably due to the return of small forward Paul Pierce from the injured list. Along with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics still have a championship-caliber core.

While Boston relies on its veteran starters, the Pacers get production throughout the lineup, routinely going 10 men deep off the bench. Aside from forward Danny Granger, the Pacers lack star power, but they have many solid contributors who mesh well together, making them a team to be reckoned with.

Not surprisingly, Boston is favored on home court, but the Pacers aren't a team that will go quietly. They were embarrassed by the Miami Heat in their last game, but will have another chance to prove their worth against an upper-echelon team.

Where: TD Garden in Boston, Mass.

When: Friday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. EST

Watch: CSNN

Live Stream: NBA League Pass

Listen: WFNI ESPN 1070 AM (Indiana) and WEEI 93.7 FM (Boston)

Betting Line: Boston (-6)

Pacers Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Questionable: C Jeff Foster (back), PF Jeff Pendergraph (knee), SG Lance Stephenson (ankle)

Celtics Key Injuries (According to CBS Sports)

Out: PF Jeff Green (heart), SG Mickael Pietrus (knee)

Probable: SG Ray Allen (illness)

What's at Stake?

There isn't usually much at stake in early-season NBA games, but this could be a big one for Indiana. The Pacers were being touted as a fast-rising team after a hot start, but getting crushed by the Heat tempered expectations a bit. Beating the Celtics, however, would put them right back on the map and would certainly have people talking.

For the Celtics, win or lose, it isn't going to change much. Some started to panic after the C's lost their opening three games, but they have bounced back and are once again looked upon favorably. Boston's main players have been around long enough to adjust to any situation, so whether they come out of this contest 5-3 or 4-4, it won't really matter.

What They're Saying

After a quick 4-1 start, the Pacers were looking to prove that they belong among the Eastern Conference's elite teams. They had a chance to do so against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Pacers were blown out by 35 points, but players like point guard Darren Collison are looking ahead to a clash with Boston, according to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star:

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"It wasn't good," point guard Darren Collison said. "It's disappointing the way we played."

"If we want to get where we want to go, we have to be able to bounce back against a team like Boston," Collison said. "We've got to leave the loss in the past and continue to move forward."

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Pacers Player to Watch: SF Danny Granger

On a team with a bevy of quality pieces, there is one star that shines brighter than the rest, and that is Pacers forward Danny Granger. While Granger is quite anonymous when compared to some of the league's bigger stars, there is no doubt that he is among the best. This season Granger has done a little bit for everything for the Pacers, as he is averaging 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and over a block per game.

Few players in the league outside of Granger can stuff the stat sheet to such a degree. If the Pacers didn't have so much depth then Granger could easily average over 25 points per game because that's the type of ability he has. He's a team player through and through, though, and there is no doubt that he is the biggest piece of the puzzle.

Celtics Player to Watch: PG Rajon Rondo

As much as the "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen get most of the credit for the Celtics' success, point guard Rajon Rondo is likely the team's most important players. In a lot of ways he is the glue that holds everything together. He has continued to develop into an elite point guard, and his statistics this season definitely echo that sentiment.

Rondo is putting up over 15 points, nearly 11 assists, five rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. While the "Big Three" does much of the scoring, Rondo does a lot of the dirty work that makes it possible. Even though the stats don't always tell the whole story with regards to Rondo's importance, it is always quite apparent when you watch the Celtics play.

Key Matchup: Pacers Depth vs. Celtics Starters

The Celtics have done a nice job of getting their bench involved early in the season, but much of that has had to do with injury concerns. With forward Paul Pierce back in the fold, the Celtics are a team that relies heavily on its starters. The Pacers, on the other hand, really only have starters in name as they have seven players that average over 24 minutes per game.

If the likes of Pierce, Garnett, Allen or Rondo aren't producing in a given game, then the Celtics are going to have a hard time being successful. Indiana gets production throughout its lineup, however, especially from post players like Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and David West. This game will come down to what prevails between Boston's star power and Indiana's team basketball.

Prediction

Pacers 90, Celtics 88