Slumping Celtics limp into Indy

The surging Indiana Pacers welcome the recently sputtering Boston Celtics into Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday in an NBA matchup that tips off a crucial stretch of Eastern Conference games for both teams.

Indiana scored its sixth win in its past seven games and eighth in the last 10 on Sunday, winning 112-109 at Dallas.

The victory closed out a 4-1 road swing for the Pacers, who now embark on a stretch where three of their next four game are against teams that enter Monday: in third place in the Eastern Conference ( Boston), in sixth place and one game behind Indiana ( Philadelphia), and in fourth place team and two games ahead of the Pacers in fourth (Miami).

“Great win, great road trip. Now we’ve got to go home and take care of home (-court advantage),” Victor Oladipo said on Sunday. “It shows our potential, especially when we have everybody healthy ... There’s still a lot of season left.”

Indiana has not fielded an entirely full-strength roster often this season.

The two- time All- Star Oladipo returned from a yearlong absence due to a quadriceps injury on Jan. 29, less than a month before Jeremy Lamb sustained a season-ending ACL tear.

The Pacers concluded their road trip without Malcolm Brogdon, who left the March 4 loss at Milwaukee with a hip injury. His status is day- to- day. Doug McDermott also was scratched on Sunday with a toe injury.

Despite the absences, balanced production has buoyed Indiana. Six Pacers scored in double figures at Dallas, led by All-star Domantas Sabonis’ double- double of 20 points and 17 rebounds.