The Indiana Pacers brought the Boston Celtics closer to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But not close enough to win a game, meaning they were far from winning the series.
Boston swept Indiana, closing out the series with a 105-102 victory in Game 4 on Monday. The Celtics reached the finals on 23rd time and they try to earn their 18th championship. Boston made the 2022 Finals, losing to Golden State, and hasn’t won a title since 2008.
Game 4 played out similarly to the first and third games of the series. The Pacers led for large parts of the game and held a lead late in the fourth quarter.
Indiana built a 98-90 lead with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter. But the Celtics’ ability to score and defend — they had the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense during the regular season — took over late. Missed shots and turnovers doomed the Pacers.
Boston outscored Indiana 15-4 to end the game. Jaylen Brown blocked a shot then assisted on Derrick White’s 3-pointer that gave the Celtics a 105-102 lead. It was Boston’s only lead in the final quarter.
Brown totaled a team-high 29 points and added six rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block, and Jayson Tatum had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Brown won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award, averaging 29.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals and shooting 51.7% from the field and 37% on 3 points.
Other factors conspired against the Pacers. All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton missed the final two games of the series with a strained left hamstring. Add in the expected absence of Bennedict Mathurin — he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in March — and the Pacers’ depth became an issue against Boston.
The Celtics, without Kristaps Porzingis (calf injury), simply had too much talent. Four of the five Celtics scored in double figures, and Derrick White produced another solid two-way performance: 16, four rebounds, four assists, five steals and three blocks. Jrue Holiday added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle promised his team would make it difficult for the Celtics to close out the Eastern Conference finals with a sweep.
Carlisle – by extension, the Pacers – kept that vow. But that’s not enough to prolong the series.
After scoring a career-high 32 playoff points in Game 3, Andrew Nembhard had 24 points and 10 assists on Monday. Indiana’s Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Boston will face the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Dallas Mavericks series in the NBA Finals, starting June 6 in Boston.
News Source : www.usatoday.com
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