Same manner, same result.
Just like the first three games, the Boston Celtics made just enough plays to escape the Indiana Pacers and booked a trip back to the NBA Finals.
The @celtics advance to the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV!
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2024
Game 1: Thursday, 6/6 at 8:30pm/et on ABC! pic.twitter.com/EeiFn1rkqW
With a score tied at 102-apiece, Jaylen Brown made a clutch defensive block on Andrew Nembhard before driving to the basket and finding an open White in the corner to give the Celtics the lead.
DERRICK WHITE FOR THE WIN IN INDY 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2024
The @celtics advance to the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV! pic.twitter.com/bk6LFD4MuN
That triple capped off a remarkable 15-2 Boston in the final six minutes of regulation, coming back from a 98-90 lead and holding the Pacers scoreless in the final 3:32 seconds of the game.
CELTICS ADVANCE TO THE FINALS ??#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/YY16VpZ5bZ
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2024
Jrue Holiday, who had a clutch steal in a Game 4 win, grabbed a key offensive rebound down the stretch to finally seal a dominating East Finals sweep for the Celtics, who are now 12-2 in the playoffs.
Brown had 29 points--who was named as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP--while Jayson Tatum added 26 and Holiday and White combined for 33 markers.
After steamrolling in the regular season en route to clinching the NBA-best overall record, the Celtics are now slowly silencing their critics, ending the Pacers’ magical run even without injured big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Nembhard, on the other hand, led Indiana with 24 points while Pascal Siakam had 19 and the duo of T.J McConnell and Obi Toppin coming up with 15 and 13 respectively.
Despite leading by as much as nine points in the final frame, the Pacers fought till the end but faltered late and did not score a field goal in the final 3:32 minutes.
Nembhard’s three-point play early in the fourth put his squad ahead by nine points, 94-85.
Andrew Nembhard goes downhill and finishes the and-1 to extend the Pacers' lead in the 4Q!
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2024
BOS-IND (3-0) | Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/YOE4tkEI5H
Superstar guard Tyrese Haliburton did not play for the second straight game due to a left hamstring injury and his absence in the last two games proved a crucial blow for Indiana, especially in moments where the Pacers needed a basket or create one.
The Celtics now await the winner of the Dallas Mavericks-Boston Celtics West Finals series.
