Eastern Conference Finals: Injury Updates for Celtics and Pacers

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics head into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a clean injury report. All players are healthy and available for the matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers will be without rookie Bennedict Mathurin for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Mathurin suffered a left ankle sprain in the Pacers' Game 7 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Mathurin's absence is a significant loss for the Pacers, as he has been a key contributor throughout the playoffs. He has averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the postseason.

The Pacers will also be without forward Aaron Nesmith, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. Nesmith has not played since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Impact of Injuries

The Celtics enter the Eastern Conference Finals as the clear favorites, given their health advantage over the Pacers. However, the Pacers have shown that they can overcome adversity and win games even when undermanned.

The Pacers will need to find a way to replace Mathurin's production on the offensive end. They could insert Jalen Smith or Oshae Brissett into the starting lineup, or they could use a combination of players to fill his void.

The Celtics will need to take advantage of the Pacers' injuries and try to build an early lead in the series. If they can win the first two games at home, they will put themselves in a great position to advance to the NBA Finals.