- Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was wild
- It was a close call 133 – 128 – and it could have ended with the Pacers winning Game 1
- The chaos in it was entertaining to some point and it ended with crucial lessons
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals was wild, to say the least, but the Celtics won early.
It was a close call 133 – 128 – and it could have ended with the Pacers winning Game 1 played on Tuesday night. The chaos in it was entertaining to some point and it ended with crucial lessons.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Game 1
To begin with, it was an epic match. Jaylen Brown, an all-star point guard for the Boston Celtics startled the Pacers in the closing seconds of regulation with a 3-pointer.
The Celtics won 133–128 to take a 1-0 series lead after the game went into overtime. Indiana Pacers had a late-game lead of 115-110 and looked to be in control when they had the ball, leading by 117-114 with ten seconds remaining in regulation.
To give the Celtics new life, though, they gave up a turnover on a careless inbounds pass. Brown made the most of it.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Game 1. Photo/Getty Images
With 5.7 seconds on the clock, Brown, with Pascal Siakam in his face, made a 3-pointer from the left corner that found the bottom of the net to win the extra session.
Jayson Tatum added 10 points, including a 3-pointer with 42.8 seconds left to give Boston a 127-123 advantage. From that point on, the Celtics took command of the game, which saw sharp swings on both sides from the first tip.
Was Celtics Game 1 Interesting?
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers Game 1 was playfully wild. The degree of offence was historically high. With a combined total of 261 points, the two teams produced the highest scoring game of the postseason thus far and the greatest total points in a conference finals matchup since 1987.
Important turnovers occurred. The Pacers committed 22 turnovers, which is their second-highest total of the year. But it didn’t stop the overwhelming underdog from rallying from several double-digit deficits, including a 12-0 Celtics surge to start the game.
There were long-range shots that changed the flow. Tyrese Haliburton, an All-Star guard for the Pacers, made two of them. One from 35 feet shortly before halftime, and another that twice bounced off the backboard before it beat the buzzer in the third quarter.
All of it culminated in the chaotic final seconds of regulation time, as the Pacers committed numerous errors. Brown then made a contested corner 3-pointer to force overtime and help Boston pull off a thrilling 133–128 victory.
What Made Boston Celtics Win?
The Celtics’ starting lineup had strong performances to match the Pacers’ offensive prowess. In addition to his 10 points in overtime, Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
Adding to his season-high 28 points, Jrue Holiday finished with seven rebounds, three steals, and eight assists. Out of his four 3-point attempts that evening, Brown only made one.
Indiana Pacers. Photo/Getty IMages
That one, though, was enormous. He finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, and he was also spot-on in other areas.
Boston Celtics had a big lead at the free-throw line and shot 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. Boston made 24 of 30 free throw attempts from the line, while Indiana made only nine of ten attempts.
How Did Indiana Pacers Lose Eastern Conference Game 1?
After the Celtics made a late charge, the Indiana Pacers lost a game they had a chance to steal in the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston.
With 30s remaining, the Pacers were ahead by three points, but the Celtics were able to tie the game thanks to costly turnovers in the closing minutes.
They won thanks to a dominant performance by Tatum in overtime, who scored 10 of his 36 points. Although many of Indiana’s 21 turnovers were inadvertent errors that allowed Boston to score, they proved to be too many.
If the Pacers hope to challenge the Celtics for the Eastern Conference crown, they will need to improve their ball handling and find a way to win close games even when they put on a great show.
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