Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) places up a 3-point shot to attain and tie the sport in opposition to the Indiana Pacers with seconds left in Sport 1 of the NBA Jap Convention basketball finals, Tuesday, Could 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 36 factors, together with 10 in extra time after Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Boston Celtics rallied simply in time for a 133-128 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night time in Sport 1 of the Jap Convention finals.
Jrue Vacation added a season-high 28 factors and Brown completed with 26.
Sport 2 is Thursday night time in Boston.
Tyrese Haliburton had 25 factors and 10 assists for the Pacers, who knocked down 13 3-pointers and scored 56 factors within the paint in opposition to a Celtics group nonetheless taking part in with out 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis.
However Boston dialed up its protection, ending with 11 steals — three every by Brown, Tatum and Vacation. The Celtics develop into the primary group in NBA playoff historical past to have three gamers document 25 factors and three steals in a recreation.
READ: NBA: Title favourite Celtics meet proud underdog Pacers in East finals
The @celtics‘ trio combines for 90 PTS as Boston wins Sport 1 in OT to go up 1-0!
JT: 36 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL
JH: 28 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL
JB: 26 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 3 STLThat is the first time in Celtics’ historical past that 3 gamers scored 25+ PTS in a Convention Finals recreation. pic.twitter.com/9puwToOUE2
— NBA (@NBA) Could 22, 2024
“We maintain speaking about defending residence court docket,” Celtics ahead Al Horford mentioned. “It’s no matter it takes.”
Pascal Siakam added 24 factors and 12 rebounds. Myles Turner completed with 23 factors and 10 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who twice turned it over with a three-point lead within the remaining 30 seconds of regulation.
Brown made them pay for the second, hitting a 3 from the nook with Siakam proper in his face to tie it at 117.
“Jaylen had nice steadiness,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “Nice move, nice shot.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned the loss was “completely on me” for not calling a timeout to advance the ball earlier than their turnover that arrange Brown’s shot.
Requested in regards to the 21 turnovers Indiana dedicated, Haliburton mentioned lots of them have been preventable.
“I feel it’s extra on us,” he mentioned. “I simply felt like extra of them have been most likely on us than them forcing turnovers.”
READ: Celtics in good headspace forward of third straight NBA East finals
The Celtics at the moment are 2-2 when their opponent scores 100 or extra factors.
“I feel we at all times knew that there’s at all times an opportunity. We’ve seen loopy stuff occur on a regular basis,” Vacation mentioned. “I don’t suppose that we predict we misplaced the sport till we truly misplaced the sport and that’s a part of the rationale why we have been so resilient.”
Indiana went again forward 123-121 when Haliburton hit all three free throws after being fouled with 1:46 remaining. Tatum then muscled in a layup and was fouled by T.J. McConnell. He accomplished the three-point play to place Boston forward for good.
The Pacers turned it over once more, this time by Haliburton. The ball discovered its approach to Tatum on the prime of key. He pumped, sidestepped a defender and sunk a 3 to make it 127-123 with 43 seconds left.
Derrick White and Siakam traded layups. Vacation was fouled and hit two free throws to present Boston a 131-125 cushion.
“It’s unlucky we did so many good issues on this recreation that it got here right down to a few errors on the finish, however it’s the NBA playoffs,” Carlisle mentioned. “We’ve acquired to be taught from it and we’ve acquired to bounce again”
