Jrue Holiday’s quick shot helped the Celtics beat the Pacers 114-111 to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals
Jrue holiday I haven’t felt well all day today. He even missed the team’s morning practice.
However, when it matters most, Celtics the guard looked fine.
Holiday converted a three-point play with 38.9 seconds left to give Boston the lead after nearly 36 minutes, Next up is the game-saving theft and then won 114-111 at Indiana with two free throws Saturday night to give the Celtics a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Celtics overcame an 18-point deficit in the second half and can earn their second NBA Finals berth in three years with another win Monday at Indiana.
“I’m fine, have a fever, sleep a lot. But I feel fine,” Holiday said. “I just made a play (at the end). He’s a great player, had a great game. I just made a play.”
Holiday finished with 14 points, five in the final 39 seconds and had nine rebounds on a night where he seemed out of shape at times. Afterwards, however, he seemed like himself and felt strong enough to balance his children on his lap.
As Holiday struggled to find his footing, Boston’s other players got the job done.
Jayson Tatum tied his playoff career high with 36 points, had 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Jaylen Brown Plus 24 points and 37 years old Al Horford Has 23 points and is 7/12 on 3-pointers.
But it was Holiday’s late-game heroics that quieted the rowdy Indiana crowd keeping Boston a perfect 5-0 on the road in the play-offs this season.
“I’m glad we got him, Jrue is a very good competitor,” Tatum said. “Obviously he’s won a championship. For him to come here and put everything on the line for us and make a big play to win the game, we have a great team. “
The Pacers have faced a formidable road in this series – even before they learned their All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton will not play in Game 3 because of a left hamstring injury. It’s unclear whether he’ll be ready for Game 4.
However, the Pacers still refused to break.
Andrew Nembhard The Pacers led by a career-high 32 points before Holiday stole the ball from him with 3.3 seconds left. TJ McConnell finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, while Myles Turner And Pascal Siakam Each person has 22 points. Turner also had 10 rebounds.
Indiana had a chance to force overtime but by Aaron Nesmith The 3-point shot missed the target.
Just as the Pacers played, scoring 69 points in the first half, twice trailing by 18 points and still holding a 107-99 advantage with three minutes left against the top team in the NBA, It was clear that the Pacers missed having Haliburton on the court.
“Courageous,” coach Rick Carlisle said. Our guys played a great match. “We were a little late tonight, but we’ll be back on Monday and we’ll try harder.”
However, a sold-out crowd wearing mostly yellow checkered flag shirts bearing dozens of individual Indiana state stamps, and a large cast of actors here for the Indianapolis 500 weekend celebration, helped energized the Pacers as they cruised through their first home playoff games, all wins.
But Holiday’s chaotic finish – a big layup, a go-ahead free throw, the defensive play of the game and two free throws to tie the score at 1.1 left – silenced the crowd. silence on a passionate night.
Indiana built an 18-point lead midway through the second quarter and did so again midway through the third quarter. For the second time, Boston used a series of Indiana turnovers to fuel a 13-4 run that gave them a 90-81 lead after three games.
The Celtics then opened the fourth with a 9-3 run, giving them a 93-90 lead on Horford’s 3 with 8:29 remaining.
Indiana responded by building back to 107-99 with 3:05 left, only to see Boston go on a 13-2 run fueled by Holiday.
“We met every challenge,” Tatum said. “We’re in a great position at the moment, just one win away from the final. But we can’t look past Monday or anything like that and we have a special opportunity to back to the finals.”
Associated Press reports.
Boston Celtics
Indiana Pacers
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