Celtics-Pacers takeaways: Jrue and the Jays come up big in Game 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
BOSTON — If Game 1 was any indication, we’re in for a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals series between the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.
It took an extra period to decide the winner of Tuesday’s series opener. Boston led Indiana by 13 in the third quarter, but the Pacers wouldn’t go down easily. They kept the C’s to just two points over the final 3:23 of the frame and cut the deficit back to one point.
Indiana regained the lead with just under five minutes to go in the fourth, giving Boston just its second clutch time game of the postseason. The Celtics were on the verge of dropping Game 1 on their home floor, then Jaylen Brown came through with the game-tying 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to force overtime.
In OT, fellow C’s star Jayson Tatum shook off a rough stretch and scored 10 points — including a huge 3-pointer with 42.8 seconds to go — to propel Boston to a 133-128 victory.
All five C’s starters scored in double figures with Tatum (36 points), Jrue Holiday (28 points), and Brown (26 points) leading the way. Al Horford and Derrick White dropped 15 apiece.
Indiana had seven players in double figures, including Tyrese Haliburton (25 points), Pascal Siakam (24 points), and Myles Turner (23 points).
Game 2 at TD Garden is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Coverage begins on NBC Sports Boston with Celtics Pregame Live at 7 p.m.
First, here are three takeaways from a wild Game 1.
The Jays come through in the clutch
The Celtics needed their stars to step up with the game on the line, and they rose to the occasion.
It wasn’t pretty for most of the fourth quarter. Tatum and Brown struggled mightily in the frame until it mattered most. Brown made up for his rough stretch with an incredible game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into OT.
Tatum went 2-for-10 in the fourth and OT before scoring six straight points on an and-one layup and a 3. He ended up with 10 points in the OT period to seal the win.
Brown finished with 26 points (10-20 FG), seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block. His only 3-point…
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Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-05-22 04:37:05
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