In the third game of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, both teams showcased their strengths and weaknesses. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton's absence due to injury, took an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter. However, the Celtics rallied back with a strong defensive performance and clutch plays from Jrue Holiday in the final minutes of the game.
The Celtics had a history of dominating when they held double-digit leads, having won all 12 such games prior to this matchup. However, they found themselves in an unfamiliar position as the Pacers took control early on. The Pacers' offense was firing on all cylinders, with Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam leading the charge.
Despite being down by 18 points, the Celtics refused to give up. They tightened their defense and held the Paciers to just 27 points in the final 18 minutes of the game. Jrue Holiday was instrumental in this comeback, providing late-game heroics on both ends of the floor.
Jayson Tatum led Boston's offense with a career-high 36 points, while Al Horford took advantage of a post-switch mismatch against T.J. McConnell to score an open layup and help seal the victory for the Celtics.
The Pacers' offensive prowess was on full display in the first half, with them shooting an impressive 63.6% from the floor and 69.4% on 2-pointers. However, their defense faltered in the second half, allowing Boston to mount a comeback.
The Celtics now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the series and are just one win away from reaching the NBA Finals.
