Pacers win a Thriller in Indiana against the Celtics

The Boston Celtics travelled to Indiana to face off in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers. While the Celtics ended up sweeping the Pacers last year in the playoffs, it was easily the toughest opponent for the Celtics last year. The Celtics got back Sam Hauser who had missed the previous three games with low back pain. And the Pacers were missing Myles Turner, their starting center.

The Pacers came hot out the gates shooting 56% from the field and playing very well defensively against the Celtics. The Pacers offense is full of chaos with a lot of flash and flare and the finishes to make up for it. Pascal Siakam provided 9 points for Indiana in the first quarter and got them into the rhythm that would be evident all game. For the Celtics, the rim seemed to have a lid as they only shot 42% from the field and 3/10 from deep. Jaylen Brown couldn’t get the ball to fall into the hoop all night as he went 11/30 from the field. Pacers lead at the end of the 1st 35-31.

Indiana continued to use their high speed offense in the second to help continue building a lead against the defending champs. Siakam continued to make tough shots throughout, and Benedict Mathurin got his night going shooting 60% and scoring 9 points in the second quarter. The Celtics held close and wouldn’t let go, as Payton Pritchard picked up where he left off from last game and provided a spark, but Indiana still went into halftime with a 10 point lead, 67-57.

Benedict Mathurin really turned it on in the 3rd quarter, scoring 14 of his 30 points in this quarter and helping lead the Pacers all the way up to 24 points in the 3rd. Then the tide began to change. The Celtics didn’t give up and scraped back to get the lead down to 20, then to 16, then to 14 going into the 4th.

Then the tidal wave came through. Neemias Queta, out of all people, helped add a defensive presence to the Celtics and forced rushed shots from the Pacers. The Celtics began hitting their shots and cut the lead all the way down to 8. Derrick White hits a three, brings it to 5. Steals the ball, gets it to Tatum who helps bring it down to 3. With about 30 seconds to go, the Celtics were only down 1. Tyrese Haliburton hits a tough turn-around middy to give them a three point lead. Tatum then comes down the floor, and with 19 seconds remaining hits a spot up 3, from the top of the key in Haliburton’s face to tie the game. Next possession, Derrick White plays stellar defense to help force a stop. At the end of the 4th, the game is tied 124-124.

OVERTIME.

Going back and forth hitting clutch shot after clutch shot the game is tied with 5 minutes left to go. Pascal Siakam took over for the Pacers scoring 6 of the 11 points in the OT period. The Celtics were able to draw plenty of fouls, and get to the line. With 6 seconds remaining, Siakam hits a tough 3 from the top of the key, with Derrick White’s hand in his face.

The Celtics call timeout, get the ball in to Jaylen Brown, and just like most of his shots tonight, air mails and seals the game. The Pacers winning 135-132.

In the very short season so far, easily the game of the year. The Celtics played tough and did a great job fighting, not giving up and maintaining their identity even though it was tough from time to time. Tatum had a great game, but still too many threes for my liking. And JB just had a off night, even though he ended up scoring 25. Derrick White was a crucial reason the Celtics stayed in this game scoring 23 points, 8/9 from the field, and 5/5 from 3.

The Pacers are the same strong offensive team that they were last year. Mathurin and Siakam were the engine of the offense tonight, but it was the supporting cast that really put them over the top. Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson and TJ McConnell all scored in double figures tonight and were crucial to the Pacers success tonight. Man, what a game.

The C’s next game is Friday in Charlotte, the first of a back to back against the Hornets, and the Pacers next game is Friday against the Peilcans in New Orleans.