Boston Celtics celebrates a three-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter of game three of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: The user expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading or using this photograph, the user agrees to the terms and conditions of the /Keynote USA/Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere//Keynote USA/Getty Images)” bad-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HldWzPtdSe5bcu8.1CIGFg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-05/98d21400-1afc-11ef-bbfd-8a3fe0e40b49″ src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HldWzPtdSe5bcu8.1CIGFg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2024-05/98d21400-1afc-11ef-bbfd-8a3fe0e40b49″>The Celtics have a 3-0 lead and this loss was the most painful one yet for the Pacers. (Photo by Stacy Revere//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
The task was much more difficult than expected, but the Boston Celtics came out of Game 4 with a 3-0 lead over the short-handed Indiana Pacers.
Led by Jayson Tatum with 36 points, the East’s top seed erased an 18-point deficit to break Pacers’ hearts with a 114-111 victory in the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at 8 pm ET.
No team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit in NBA history.
The Pacers entered the game without Tyrese Haliburton, who exited Game 3 with a hamstring injury and was ruled out hours before Game 4. He was cleverly replaced by Andrew Nembhard, who had a Haliburton-esque night with 32 points, career-high 12.-21 shots and nine assists.
That, combined with 20-plus points from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and bench hero TJ McConnell, looked like it would be enough.
Instead, the Celtics steadily chipped away during the second half. Tatum took control, scoring those 36 points on 12-of-23 shooting along with 10 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and zero turnovers. They had the lead down to five points at the start of the fourth quarter, to three shortly after and to two with 1:12 left.
Jrue Holiday finally put them ahead with an and-1 in the final minute, finishing through contact from Siakam.
Holiday, who was questionable for the game due to illness, chased the Pacers again on what could have been a winning possession, stripping Nembhard for a steal with four seconds left.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which had been lush for much of the game, fell silent as referees reviewed whether a clear path foul had been committed against Holiday. The review was in favor of the Pacers, but Holiday still made two free throws, which he made to go up three points with 1.7 seconds left.
That still gave Indiana one last chance to tie a game in which they led by double digits for much of the two quarters. It was decided to execute what looked like a soccer play, which caused Nembhard, running, to reach the ball on the perimeter, but his attempt to ring the bell failed to end the game.
Carlisle was furious when the Celtics celebrated because of some contact with Nembhard, but the whistle didn’t blow.
Al Horford makes personal history and in the NBA Playoffs
As much as the Pacers may mourn the loss of Haliburton, the Celtics have been playing the entire series without starting center Kristaps Porzingis. The reason they aren’t complaining is because of Al Horford’s play.
The 37-year-old veteran once again made a difference in the starting lineup, scoring 23 points with 7 of 12 three-pointers. That number is both a career-high for Horford in his 17th NBA season and enough to make him the oldest player in NBA history to make seven 3-pointers in a playoff game.
To Horford tonight:
▫️23 Points
▫️5 rebounds
▫️1 Steal | 3 blocks
▫️8/14 FG (7/12 3FG)— Top professional
THE OG.pic.twitter.com/VV152MqZQM
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) May 26, 2024
Porzingis reportedly tends to return as early as Game 4, but Horford has given the Celtics the luxury of not needing him and potentially giving the Latvian enough rest before the NBA Finals.
Andrew Nembhard really was that good
Nembhard came close to a signature playoff moment with that final 3-pointer. What happened Saturday remains perhaps the most impressive night of his basketball career.
32 points isn’t just a playoff best or a season high for Nembhard. It is the most points he has scored in a game between his NBA career and his college career. And he did it against the Celtics, who have one of the best defenses in the NBA with Holiday and Derrick White, as well as Tatum and Jaylen Brown around the perimeter.
Nembhard was a second-round pick in 2022, quickly worked his way into the Pacers’ rotation and stayed there as the Pacers rose through the ranks of the Eastern Conference this season. With Haliburton out, Indiana moved Ben Sheppard into the starting lineup and took over primary ball-handling duties for Nembhard.
Game 3 showed that Nembhard’s potential could still be greater than anyone expected, although that’s not much consolation as the Pacers face the likely end of their season.
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