INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers beat Oklahoma City on Friday night, proving they indeed are one of the league’s up-and-coming teams.

A day later, the Boston Celtics showed the Pacers what the next level looks like. Paul Pierce scored 24 points to help the Celtics beat Indiana, 86-72.

The veteran-laden Celtics did what winning playoff teams do. They controlled the tempo, played stifling defense and made timely shots all night. Indiana matched its lowest point total of the season.

“I thought defensively we were sensational tonight,” Boston Coach Doc Rivers said. “In a game where shots are not going in and you can still win the game, that means you can trust your defense on nights that it (the offense) doesn’t work.”

Ray Allen added 19 points, Kevin Garnett scored 15 and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists for the Celtics.

Allen came off the bench for just the second time this season. He made 5 of 11 3-pointers, including 3 of 5 in the second half. He had missed six games because of an ankle injury and has been back for three games.

“We got him good shots and I told him, it’s still going to take a couple of games,” Rivers said. “He’s still trying to get his legs back. I thought in the second half you could see he had a breakthrough.”

Boston also got a key contribution from Greg Stiemsma, a rookie who has received increased minutes because Jermaine O’Neal is out for the season after left wrist surgery. Stiemsma had 10 points, a season-high nine rebounds and five blocks. Much of it came against center Roy Hibbert.

“Greg came in and did a terrific job,” Rivers said. “Guarding Hibbert is no fun. He’s a big man and he’s physical, and I thought he did a sensational job.”

Boston snapped a two-game skid and remained ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the Atlantic Division.

“They’re playing at a very, very high level,” Indiana Coach Frank Vogel said. “They have a championship coach and a championship core. They know how to get it done.”

Danny Granger scored 20 points, David West had 16, and Hibbert added nine points and 17 rebounds for Indiana.

The Pacers had won four straight and had scored more than 100 points in five consecutive games. Indiana shot 35 percent from the field, made just 5 of 22 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers.

“This is just a bump in the road for us,” Granger said.

HAWKS 116, BOBCATS 96: Joe Johnson scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and eight Atlanta players scored in double digits at Charlotte, N.C.

HORNETS 99, TIMBER-WOLVES 90: Jason Smith had a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, leading New Orleans at home.

BUCKS 116, TRAIL BLAZERS 94: Beno Udrih scored a season-high 21 points, Brandon Jennings also added 21, and Milwaukee won at home.

GRIZZLIES 94, MAVERICKS 89: Rudy Gay scored 25 points, Zach Randolph added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis built a big early lead and held on at home.

MAGIC 88, 76ERS 82: Dwight Howard had 20 points and 22 rebounds, and Glen Davis added 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead Orlando at Philadelphia.

NOTES: Kobe Bryant sat out the Lakers’ game against Phoenix because of an injured left shin, the first game he’s missed this season. Charlotte forward Eduardo Najera didn’t suffer any brain trauma after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from John Brockman of Milwaukee during Friday night’s 95-90 loss.