Boston Celtics Win Overtime Thriller Against Indiana Pacers
Celtics Escape with 133-128 Victory in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals
Tatum Shines with 36 Points, Brown Forces Overtime with Clutch Three
The Boston Celtics pulled off a dramatic 133-128 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. Despite trailing by 3 points in the final seconds of regulation, the Celtics rallied to force overtime and ultimately secure the win.
Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston with a game-high 36 points, while Jaylen Brown added 29 points, including a crucial three-pointer that forced overtime. The Celtics also received key contributions from Marcus Smart (18 points) and Al Horford (14 points).
The Pacers, who were without injured star Tyrese Haliburton, were led by Myles Turner's 34 points. Buddy Hield also chipped in 27 points, while Bennedict Mathurin added 23 points. Despite their valiant effort, the Pacers ultimately fell short in their bid to steal home-court advantage.
The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with both teams trading blows. The Pacers led by as many as 15 points in the first half but the Celtics managed to chip away and take a 6-point lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Pacers surged back and took a 3-point lead with less than a minute remaining. However, Brown drained a clutch three-pointer to tie the game and force overtime.
In overtime, the Celtics pulled away early and never looked back. They outscored the Pacers 13-7 in the extra period to secure the win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The two teams will meet again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night in Boston.
Comments