For the third time in four games, the Boston Celtics erased it. Boston rallied from an 89-82 fourth-quarter deficit Monday night to secure a 105-102 win over the Pacers, marking their second comeback in two games in Indianapolis.
This victory clinched a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals win for the Celtics, earning them a spot in the NBA Finals. Boston will face off against the winner of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves for the NBA championship. The Mavericks, currently leading 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals, have a chance to sweep their series at home on Tuesday night.
Derrick White’s Dagger Completes Celtics Rally
Boston trailed for most of the fourth quarter before tying the game at 102-102 on a Jaylen Brown floater. Derrick White then secured the Celtics’ first lead of the quarter at 105-102 with a three-pointer with 43.9 seconds remaining.
This shot proved to be the final bucket of both the game and the series, as the Celtics stunned the Indiana crowd for the second straight game. The Pacers were without their All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton for Games 3 and 4 due to a hamstring strain.
The Pacers appeared to be in control and poised to force a Game 5 until the final minutes. Pascal Siakam’s layup in traffic extended Indiana’s lead to 102-98 with 3:32 remaining, but it was the last time the Pacers would score.
Pacers’ Offense Shuts Down Late — Again
Over the last 3:32, the Pacers went 0-for-4 from the field and turned the ball over twice. Andrew Nembhard’s last-gasp three-point attempt to match White’s shot missed the mark with 32.1 seconds remaining. Jayson Tatum secured the rebound for the Celtics, and Indiana never regained possession.
For the Pacers, the conclusion was heartbreak in a series filled with frustration. They led Game 1 in Boston, 115-110, in the final two minutes before losing in overtime. They also led Game 3 at home by 18 points but blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead in a 114-111 Celtics win.
Monday’s loss was a familiar story. Indiana was a possession away from winning any one of those three games, but the Celtics made the critical plays down the stretch each time to secure the series victory.
Brown paced the Celtics with another sensational performance, posting 29 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists. He shot 11 of 22 from the field and 4 of 8 from three-point distance. Averaging 29.8 points per game in the series, Brown hit the clutch Game 1 three-pointer that sent the game to overtime, earning him the Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
Officiating Controversy on Apparent Flagrant Foul That Wasn’t
Like much of the postseason, Monday’s game included officiating controversy. With Indiana leading 98-84 in the final 7:30, Pacers guard T.J. McConnell secured an offensive rebound off a missed Nembhard three-pointer. Brown inadvertently smacked him in the face, sending McConnell tumbling to the court.
It appeared to be a textbook flagrant foul due to the unnecessary and reckless contact to the opponent’s head, but officials saw it differently. After a review, referee Zach Zarba announced to a disapproving Indiana crowd that it was ruled a common foul.
“The contact, although unfortunate, does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul penalty one,” Zarba stated.
Instead of two free throws and possession that would come with a flagrant foul, the Pacers were awarded just possession on the non-shooting foul. McConnell missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, and Jrue Holiday hit a layup on the other end to continue the Celtics’ rally.
This sequence can’t solely be blamed for Indiana’s late breakdown on offense, but it certainly didn’t help their cause. Regardless, their season is over, and Boston advances to compete for its first NBA championship since 2008.
The Celtics won Monday night despite being outshot from the floor (46%-44.9%) and from three-point distance (34.5%-31.8%) and losing the rebounding battle, 47-44. However, they made more three-pointers (14 to Indiana’s 10) and forced 14 Pacers turnovers. Once again, their poise down the stretch made the difference.
Tatum joined Brown in leading the Celtics’ effort with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. White, in addition to his game-winning three, was a defensive force, posting 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, five steals, and three blocked shots.
Nembhard led the Pacers for the second consecutive game in Haliburton’s absence with 24 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. Siakam contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, while McConnell had another strong game off the bench with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Despite a successful season, the Pacers’ campaign ended in frustrating fashion, leaving them to reflect on what might have been