Celtics just got a brutal reality check in their latest mess

The Celtics weren't able to get back into the win column on Monday against the Pacers. A Pascal Siakam game-winner sealed their second straight loss, 108-106.

Here's what stood out:

If there’s one thing about the Pacers, it’s that they’re not going to miss, apparently

Monday’s game marked the third time the Celtics have played the Pacers in under a month. In each of the previous two meetings, Indiana had stretches where they were absolutely unconscious from long range.

This third matchup was no different, let me tell you.

After getting off to a 1-6 start from beyond the arc, the Pacers decided they weren’t interested in missing anymore. In a game-changing second quarter, Indy knocked down seven of their nine attempts from distance.

They finished at 43% from deep, drilling 16 of their 37 triples on the evening.

Payton Pritchard must start salivating when he sees Jaylen Brown is out

As the header says, Boston played without Jaylen Brown for the third time this season. As any former NBA player would tell you, any time the star is out, it means more shots for everybody else.

For some, like Payton Pritchard, it means more responsibility, too.

Pritchard must salivate on nights like these, where he knows he’s going to get a chance to cook. He didn’t come out of the gates red hot, but eventually took over in the third quarter, where he scored 11 of his 23 points.

Jaylen Brown is important to the Celtics

Perhaps the most obvious takeaway of all time. But, in case you forgot, Brown is the motor in which this team runs off of. The four-time All-Star is having the best season of this career and has been crucial in Boston’s early stretch of success.

Without him, it’s obvious how much more vulnerable the Celtics are.

Just take the opening half of the third quarter for example. Boston didn’t score their first basket of the half until Neemias Queta slammed home a two-handed dunk four and a half minutes in.

Even after that, the stretch was full of misses and turnovers for the Celtics. They could’ve used the calmness and stability that Brown has provided them all season.

This was a great night for an ‘Anferno’ game

Anfernee Simons is in the midst of his best stretch as a Celtic. He’s shot the ball incredibly well over the past few weeks and continues to look more and more comfortable in his role off the bench.

Much like Pritchard, he had himself a stretch where he was borderline unstoppable in this one. Simons was crucial for Boston while Indiana had their three-point extravaganza in the second quarter. He poured in 12 of his 16 points to help the Cs stay afloat.

Simons showcased the whole bag with a combination of drives, pull-ups, and step-backs.