Turner's triple-double leads Celtics past Pacers
The Boston Celtics dealt the Indiana Pacers' playoff hopes a near-fatal blow.
Evan Turner's third triple-double of the season powered the Celtics to a 100-87 victory over the Pacers on Wednesday.
Tyler Zeller scored a team-high tying 19 points - 17 of which came in the first half - while Kelly Olynyk fought through a swollen-shut black eye to chip in with 19 of his own off the bench.
Indiana sits 11th in the East, 2.5 games behind the eighth-place Brooklyn Nets - who downed the New York Knicks 100-98 - with seven contests remaining. Boston, winners of two straight, is a half-game behind the Nets.
The Celtics have taken down two playoff-hopeful teams this week in the Pacers and Charlotte Hornets, who crushed the Detroit Pistons 102-78 on Wednesday and are 1.5 games behind the Nets.
Boston hosts the reeling Milwaukee Bucks on Friday before a Saturday date with the Atlantic Division-winning Toronto Raptors.