Boston and Indiana meet again with familiar tension in the air: the Celtics want payback, and the Pacers are trying to survive a road swing while juggling a battered rotation. If you’re looking for the easiest way to watch, here’s the start time, broadcast information and the key context shaping Wednesday night’s matchup at TD Garden.
Recent meetings between Boston and Indiana have swung sharply in both directions. Over the last five games, the Celtics have won three times, including two emphatic victories of 140–122 and 142–105, showing their offensive ceiling when the matchup tilts their way. Indiana, however, has proven it can disrupt Boston’s rhythm, highlighted by a 123–114 win late in 2024 and a narrow 98–96 victory earlier this month. The pattern suggests volatility rather than dominance, with Boston’s wins coming by comfortable margins and the Pacers’ successes built on tighter, grind-it-out finishes.
Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV channel: Local coverage is listed on NBC Sports Boston in the Boston market, with radio coverage on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Availability can vary by region and provider.
Live stream: Streaming options depend on your location and subscriptions. For the most reliable official listing, check the matchup page through the NBA schedule and confirm your provider’s guide close to tip-off.
If you’re outside the local broadcast area, blackout rules and rights restrictions can affect what you see. The quickest fix is to verify the listed broadcaster for your ZIP code shortly before the game begins.
The bigger reason this one has drawn attention is the backdrop. Boston comes in after a tight 104–103 loss to Detroit on Monday, a physical game that ended with Jaylen Brown missing a potential game-winner at the buzzer. Brown still finished with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds, and the same night brought a personal milestone: he was named an NBA All-Star starter for the first time after four previous selections.
Indiana, meanwhile, is searching for clean offense on the road. The Pacers have struggled with efficiency, and the first two stops of their five-game trip went sideways in different ways: a season-worst 121–78 loss at Detroit followed by a 113–104 defeat in Philadelphia featuring 24 turnovers. Coach Rick Carlisle pointed to ball security as the most urgent fix, noting that the gap in steals made it nearly impossible to win.
Even so, Indiana has had bright spots. Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam have carried much of the scoring burden lately. Nembhard put up 25 points against the 76ers, while Siakam had 24, continuing a run of consistent production with four straight 20-plus point outings and 11 such games in his last 12. Carlisle also acknowledged the season-long reality of missing personnel, while insisting the team’s standard for effort cannot slip.
That injury theme is central again tonight. Indiana has been without key contributors, and the latest report lists significant absences, including Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin. Boston has its own concerns, highlighted by Jaylen Brown listed as probable and Jayson Tatum unavailable. For viewers, that context matters because it can change how the game looks: more on-ball creation responsibilities, more minutes for secondary guards, and fewer easy possessions when lineups are forced into unfamiliar shapes.
The season series has provided plenty already. This will be the fourth meeting, with Boston chasing a third win after taking two straight in late December, while Indiana grabbed a narrow 98–96 victory on Jan. 12. That recent result, combined with Boston’s desire to respond after Monday’s heartbreak, gives the night its edge: it’s a watchable mix of revenge energy and survival basketball.
TONIGHT ☘️ Celtics vs. @Pacers
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 21, 2026
⏰ 7:30 PM
📍 @tdgarden
📺 @NBCSBoston
🎙️ @985TheSportsHub
📲 https://t.co/RPMLroA4gd#DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/uZMeNj0i8z
Quick checklist before tip-off
• Set a reminder for 7:30 p.m. ET.
• Confirm NBC Sports Boston is available in your market if you’re watching locally.
• If streaming, verify rights and blackouts through your provider’s listing close to game time.
• Re-check the official injury report about an hour before tip-off for late changes.
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