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Pacers visit Beantown

Mar 1, 2014 - 2:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The NBA-best Indiana Pacers hope to start another successful month when they invade Boston Saturday to take on the Celtics at TD Garden.

The Pacers are two games ahead of the Miami Heat for the East's top spot with a fabulous 44-13 record and just went 9-3 in February. They capped the month with a 101-96 triumph versus Milwaukee on Thursday and were led by Roy Hibbert's 24 points and 12 rebounds.

"We're a balanced attack. A different guy will get going every night," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

Paul George and Lance Stephenson scored 18 points apiece for the Pacers, who shot 51.4 percent to make up for 19 turnovers that led to 25 Milwaukee points.

The Pacers have won three in a row and will put their 16-10 road record on the line Saturday.

Indiana guard George Hill (shoulder) is questionable against the Celtics.

Boston ended a five-game losing streak with Wednesday's 115-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the opener of a five-game homestand.

Jerryd Bayless netted 29 points, while Rajon Rondo added 22 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who had a 34-25 advantage in the fourth quarter and improved to 12-17 in Beantown.

"It was good that they played well together," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said of the Bayless/Rondo combo. "Maybe we'll see that more. Makes a lot of sense after tonight."

Jeff Green tallied 17 points and eight rebounds, while Brandon Bass provided 14 points and eight boards in a winning effort. The Celtics were without forward Jared Sullinger (mild concussion) and center Kelly Olynyk (toe). Both players are questionable Saturday. Sullinger has missed three straight games.

The Celtics will also host Golden State, Brooklyn and Detroit on the stay and have lost the first two meetings with Indiana this season. The two teams will meet again March 11 in Indy.

Indiana has dropped nine of its last 11 visits to Boston.