Pacers vs. Celtics, Game 1: Game thread, lineups, TV info and more

The Pacers and Celtics start their first-round playoff series in Boston on Sunday afternoon.

The Celtics closed the regular season by winning six of their last eight games, including a pair of wins over the Pacers. The second win, was a 117-97 drubbing of the Pacers at the Fieldhouse.

In hindsight, that beating may not have been so bad.

For one, it put a solid game by the Celtics and in particular, Gordon Hayward on tape available for adjustments. Plus, this time around, the Pacers will have Darren Collison available to give the Pacers a fully healthy playing rotation. As for the C’s, they will be down Marcus Smart whose defense and toughness is always a problem — just ask Bojan Bogdanovic.

While Hayward may be an X-factor off the bench for the Celtics, Kyrie Irving is the best player on the floor and if the Pacers can find a way to make anyone else beat them they should have a chance to win the game down the stretch.

Game Information:

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

When: 1:00 p.m. ET

TV: TNT/FOX Sports Indiana

Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan

Projected Starting Lineups:

Pacers: Darren Collison, Wesley Matthews, Bojan Bogdanovic, Thaddeus Young, Myles Turner

Celtics: Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Aron Baynes

Injury update:

IND: Victor Oladipo (right knee) - out

BOS: Marcus Smart (Oblique) - out

Please leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.