Late rally sees the Boston Celtics seize 3-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in NBA Eastern Conference Finals

The Boston Celtics took a 3-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference Finals series after a 114-111 win over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Saturday. They enter Game 4 just one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.

A three-point play from Jrue Holiday with 38.9 seconds to go gave Boston their first lead in almost 36 minutes at 112-111. The guard followed it up with a game-saving steal on Andrew Nembhard and secured the win with two free throws in the final seconds.

Holiday had suffered through an illness all day and was considered questionable for the game. But when needed most, he rose to the challenge and led his team a step closer to the NBA Finals.

The Pacers led by 18 points midway through the third quarter, despite the absence of talisman Tyrese Haliburton with a hamstring strain.

Jayson Tatum’s 36 points, 15 of which came in the first quarter, managed to keep Boston within touching distance. He added 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Jaylen Brown added 24 points.

A 37-year-old Al Horford had 23 points and was 7-of-12 on three-pointers.

Late in the third, Boston finally began to chip away at the lead, and Indiana led 109-101 with two minutes and 39 seconds remaining in the final quarter. 

Tatum and Horford made back-to-back three-pointers to take them within two, and then Holiday's heroics sealed the deal for the visitors. 

After being bedridden with a fever most of the day, Holiday was only cleared to play 45 minutes before tip-off. He had 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

"I didn't feel too well," he said.

"I guess I just figured if I got a good day's rest or tried to sleep through it, that would help me.

"It's Game Three in the Eastern Conference Finals, so I wasn't going to miss this game."

Tatum added: “I’m glad we got him, Jrue’s a hell of a competitor.

“Obviously, he’s won a championship. For him to come out here and put it all on the line for us and come up with a big play to win the game, we’ve got a hell of a team.”

The 33-year-old is in his 15th year in the league and has been essential for his side all season, including scoring 43 points in the first two games of the series against the Pacers.

Despite being pickpocketed by Holiday in the fourth quarter, Nembhard played a fabulous game as he finished with 32 points and nine assists in 39 minutes. The 24-year-old had to take the playmaking reins in Haliburton’s absence.  

Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner each had 22 points, with the latter grabbing 10 rebounds, but it was not enough to stop the Celtics, who now sit one game away from returning to the NBA Finals.

“Courageous. Our guys played a great game,” coach Rick Carlisle said.

“We came up a little short tonight, but we will be back Monday and we will be punching even harder.”

This is Boston’s third straight year in the Conference Finals, but they have been unable to win a title since the 2008 season. 

Game 4 takes place on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A Boston win would see them face either the Dallas Mavericks or the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Finals. 

The Mavericks currently lead the Western Conference series 2-0 with game three on Sunday.

“We’ve met every challenge,” Tatum said.

“We’re in a great position right now, one win away from the Finals. But we can’t look past Monday or anything like that and we have a special opportunity to go back to the Finals.”

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