"This was clearly a game the Celtics were supposed to lose.

Forget about the fact they were playing the Pacers, a team they haven't been close to in a pair of meetings this season. The reason the Celts blew any chance at an upset last night could be found in the minutes-played category of the box score from the previous evening's stirring 91-83 comeback victory in Orlando.

Paul Pierce went 44 minutes. Kevin Garnett pleaded his way back in for 35. Mickael Pietrus played 32 with a bad shoulder. And everyone was forced to extend himself to overcome a 27-point deficit.

Then there was the late flight back from an 8 p.m. national television start that messed with the joys of sleep.

Accordingly, the Celtics were across-the-board home underdogs on the Las Vegas lines.

This should have been over before it started.

But evidently the Celtics didn't get the message."