JAYSON Tatum delivered timely baskets in the overtime period as Boston Celtics pulled off a 133-128 Game 1 win over Indiana Pacers in the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
After a three-pointer by Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton to start the overtime period, the Celtics responded with back-to-back baskets from Jaylen Brown and Tatum to take a 121-120 lead.
The Pacers regained the lead for the last time at 123-121 via three free throws by Haliburton, but Tatum responded with a three-point play and a three-pointer to give the Celtics a 127-123 edge.
Boston’s grew further to 131-125 on a basket by Derrick White and two free throws by Jrue Holiday. Indiana made its last push at 128-131, but two freebies by Tatum sealed the win for the Celtics.
Tatum finished with a double-double of 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Holiday chipped in 28 markers, eight assists, and seven rebounds as the Celtics took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Brown wound up with 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, White contributed 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, and Al Horford ended with 15 points.
The Pacers were on top 115-110 with over a minute left but Celtics answered with a basket from Holiday and two free throws from Brown to cut the deficit to 114-115.
Indiana widened their lead to 117-114 on a conversion by Andrew Nembhard before turning the ball over twice, giving the Celtics a chance to tie the game at 117-all on a Brown triple.
Haliburton finished with a double-double of 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Pacers, Paskal Siakam wound up with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Myles Turner contributed 23 points and 10 boards.
Indiana also got double-digit performances from Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, TJ McConnell, and Nembhard, who ended with 15, 14, 13, and 12 points, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
BOSTON 133 — Tatum 36, Holiday 28, Brown 26, Horford 15, White 15, Pritchard 8, Kornet 5, Hauser 0.
INDIANA 128 — Haliburton 25, Siakam 24, Turner 23, Toppin 15, Nesmith 14, McConnell 13, Nembhard 12, Sheppard 2, Jackson 0, Smith 0.
Quarterscores: 34-31, 64-64, 94-93, 117-117, 133-128.
