At the Buzzer: R3G1 — Celtics 133, Pacers 128 OT
This loss is a gut-punch for the Pacers, who gave it away. Two turnovers in 19 seconds, then they elected not to foul up three — and then they dropped Game 1 in overtime.
The NBA is down to the final four and the Indiana Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a decade after beating the New York Knicks in a Game 7 on the road.
It was then a quick turnaround for the Pacers. They went directly to Boston on Sunday and tipped off about 48 hours later, whereas the Celtics hadn’t played since last Wednesday. The Celtics won three of five regular-season meetings, but this was their first meeting since Jan. 30 — Tyrese Haliburton’s first game back from his left hamstring injury.
The Celtics entered Game 1 favored by 10 points.
The game officials were Tony Brothers, David Guthrie, Tyler Ford, Brian Forte (alternate).
The Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis (right calf strain). He's missed seven of 11 playoff games, but could return for this series. Xavier Tillman (personal reasons) was also out. Only Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder rehab) missing for the Pacers.
Watch my live postgame show in the media player below:
🏀How it happened: The game had a challenge in the first 35 seconds, then the Celtics sprinted ahead 12-0 in the first 2:44 as four of five starters contributed. But like the Pacers have all postseason, they answered. Led by an 11-point outburst off the bench from Obi Toppin, the Pacers got to within three after 1. They had nine assists on 13 field goals, but the Celtics shot better than 58%.
After the Celtics moved ahead 47-37, the Pacers again answered to knot the game at 57. Myles Turner was slipping open for 3s and scored 12 of his 23 points in the quarter. Isaiah Jackson defended Jayson Tatum tight on one possession, but then Jalen Smith was subbed in; that didn’t last long. The Pacers were flying all over the court, especially Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam. Then Tyrese Haliburton nailed a logo 3-pointer from 39 feet to tie the game at 64 entering the half.
Haliburton then opened the half with a clear path down the left lane line for a layup, which gave the Pacers their first lead at 66-64. The Pacers nearly cost themselves with a brutal stretch in the third. They piled up turnovers — story of the game — leading to 13 unanswered points from the Celtics. They used a 16-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, then the Pacers answered with three straight scores. And once again, Haliburton beat the buzzer to end the quarter with a triple.
Here’s where Siakam settled in and drained several free-throw line jumpers for 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. One of them gave the Pacers their largest lead at 115-110. The entire bench was standing in the final minutes. The Celtics missed several layups, but the Pacers kept them in it with costly mistakes. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown buried a 3-pointer to force overtime at 117.
The Pacers then inbounded to Haliburton with 5.7 seconds left, but he didn’t get a good shot off.
Not only did the Pacers have several self-inflicted mistakes, but the free throw differential wasn’t to their liking. After Haliburton was fouled on a 3-point attempts, he attempted as many free throws as they had in regulation. Tatum scored an and-1, then drilled a 3-pointer to put this game away. 133-128 in a Celtics win.