Pacers players ‘give credit’ to Celtics after playoff sweep

Morning Sports Update

“You have to give credit to the other team because they took advantage of every mistake we made. They did well.”

Pacers players reflect after Celtics win in Eastern Conference finals: Ultimately, injuries, squandered late leads and a collective lack of experience doomed the Pacers as Indiana lost 4-0 to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

Pacers players, speaking after the sweep ended Monday night, reflected on the end of their season.

“It’s still very fresh for all of us,” Indiana center Myles Turner said, according to ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “Very frustrating to have all these games at your fingertips and let them pass you by.”

Boston overcame fourth-quarter deficits in three of the four victories, exploiting several crucial Indiana errors.

“I can tell you we’re going to learn from it and it’s going to happen, but it’s not guaranteed,” Pascal Siakam said of the Pacers’ potential return at such a stage. “I know how difficult it is to get to this point. It’s regrettable.

“You want to give credit to the other team because they took advantage of every mistake we made. They did well,” Siakam admitted of the Celtics. “But for us it’s been tough, like heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss. Yes, it will encourage you and hopefully do the right amount of work to continue improving. Because we have to be much better if we want to compete with these teams. And understand that no matter how well we played, we didn’t make it.

For several players on the Indiana team, it was the first time they had been in such an intense moment in the playoffs.

Echoing comments from Celtics players from several years ago, a few Pacers expressed their reactions to the unexpected aspects of dealing with nerves in the playoffs.

“The playoffs, everyone thinks it’s so physically intimidating. Yes, that’s true, but it’s also mentally intimidating,” Turner added, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Star of Indianapolis. “It’s intimidating to your mind. Mentally, physically and spiritually, one must be prepared for these moments. You’re the only show on TV. Everyone will constantly have something to say about your performance. A small mistake in the first quarter can cost you the game in the fourth. It’s a game of possession.

Still, looking at Indiana’s accomplishments in 2024 — pulling off multi-round upsets and reaching a conference finals for the first time since 2000 — there are plenty of reasons for Pacers fans to feel optimistic.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, despite his own disappointment, managed to take a more positive outlook on the team’s season as a whole.

“I don’t really know where to start but first I want to tell you that we thanked our players a few moments ago for an incredible season, a magical season,” Carlisle began his post-match remarks . “The level of combat was just great throughout this adventure. Circumstances never swayed them one way or the other. They were there to win every possible possession in every possible game.

Anecdote: Tanner Houck lowered his ERA to a remarkable 1.90 in the Red Sox’ 2-1 win this weekend on Sunday. According to Red Sox game notes, this is the lowest among any Boston starter in 11 starts since 2013, when another Red Sox pitcher held a 1.62 ERA. Name this launcher.

(Answer at bottom).

Hint: He was selected in the 2005 MLB Draft using a compensation pick that Boston had obtained due to the free agent departure of Pedro Martinez.

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals with a 105-102 Game 4 win over the Pacers to complete the Eastern Conference Finals sweep Monday night.

Boston will face the winner of the current Mavericks-Timberwolves Western Conference Finals game (with Dallas currently leading the series 3-0) beginning in Game 1 on June 6 at TD Garden.

Elsewhere, the Red Sox lost 11-3 to the Orioles on Monday, with both teams scheduled to play again tonight starting at 6:35 p.m.

On Wednesday, PWHL Boston will face Minnesota at the Tsongas Center in the deciding Game 5 of the Walter Cup final at 7 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

Dave Pasch’s tribute to Bill Walton: The legendary Walton’s former broadcast partner shared his thoughts on their friendship and the loss of an icon.