For the third time in four games, the Indiana Pacers held a lead late in the fourth quarter.
For the third time in four games, the Boston Celtics erased it. Boston rallied from an 89-82 fourth-quarter deficit Monday night to secure a 105-102 victory over the Pacers for a second comeback in two games in Indianapolis.
The victory ensures the Celtics a 4-0 victory in the Eastern Conference Finals and a berth in the NBA Finals. Boston will face the winner between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves for the NBA championship. The Mavericks hold a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals and have a chance to win their own series at home Tuesday night.
Derrick White’s dagger ends Celtics rally
Boston trailed for most of the fourth quarter before tying the game at 102-102 on a Jaylen Brown floater. Then, Derrick White secured the Celtics’ first lead of the quarter at 105-102 on a 3-pointer with 43.9 seconds remaining.
That proved to be the final bucket of the game and series as the Celtics stunned the Indiana crowd for a second straight game. Boston defeated Indiana as the Pacers played a second straight game without All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, who missed Games 3 and 4 with a hamstring strain.
The Pacers appeared to be in control and were destined to force a Game 5 until the final minutes of the game. As the Celtics closed the gap, Pascal Siakam hit a layup in traffic to extend Indiana’s lead to 102-98 with 3:32 to play. That was the last time the Pacers scored.
Pacers offense shuts down late – again
In the final 3:32, the Pacers went 0-4 from the field and turned the ball over twice. Andrew Nembhard’s final 3-point attempt to tie White’s missed the target with 32.1 seconds remaining. Jayson Tatum secured the rebound for the Celtics and Indiana never possessed the ball again.
For the Pacers, the conclusion marked the ultimate heartbreak in a series filled with frustration. They led the first game in Boston, 115-110 in the final two minutes before losing in overtime. They led Saturday’s Game 3 at home by 18 points, but blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter in a 114-11 Celtics victory.
Monday’s loss was much the same. Indiana was one possession away from winning one of those three games. But the Celtics played every time to secure the series victory.
Brown paced the Celtics in another sensational effort while posting 29 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. He shot 11 of 22 from the field and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. He averaged 29.8 points per game in the series and hit the game-opening 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime. He won the ECF MVP for his efforts.
Refereeing controversy over apparent flagrant foul that wasn’t a foul
Like much of the postseason, Monday’s game was not without controversy among officials. With Indiana leading 98-84 in the final 7:30 of the game, Pacers guard TJ McConnell got an offensive rebound on a missed 3-point shot from Andrew Nembhard. Brown punched him in the face and sent McConnell falling hard backwards toward the field.
It wasn’t intentional, but it was a blatant foul with unnecessary and reckless contact with an opponent’s head. The authorities saw things differently.
After officials reviewed the foul, referee Zach Zarba announced to a disapproving Indiana crowd that it was a common foul.
“The contact, while unfortunate, does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul penalty,” Zarba said.
Instead of two free throws and the possession that would come with a flagrant foul, the Pacers got just possession on the no-shot foul. McConnell missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, and Jrue Holiday nailed a layup on the other end to continue the Celtics’ rally.
The streak can’t be blamed on Indiana for the Pacers’ late breakdown on offense. But that certainly didn’t help their cause. Regardless, their season is over and Boston qualifies to compete for its first NBA championship since 2008.
The Celtics won Monday night despite shooting from the floor (46%-44.9%) and 3-point range (34.5%-31.8%) and losing in the rebounding battle, 47-44. But they shot more 3-pointers (14 shots to 10) than Indiana and forced 14 Pacers turnovers. And, once again, they were more calm throughout the sequence.
Tatum joined Brown in leading the Celtics effort with 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. In addition to his game-winning 3, White was a force on defense posting 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, five steals and three blocked shots.
Nembhard led the Pacers for a second straight game in Haliburton’s absence with 24 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Sikam had 19 points and 10 rebounds, while McConnell had another good game coming off the bench with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
But Indiana’s season is over, leaving the Pacers to settle for a successful campaign that ended in frustrating fashion.
News Source : sports.yahoo.com
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