Jrue Holiday's finishing flurry helps Celtics beat Pacers 114-111 for 3-0 lead in East finals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jrue Holiday didn’t feel well all day. He even missed the team’s morning shootaround.
When it mattered most, though, the Celtics guard looked just fine.
Holiday converted a three-point play with 38.9 seconds left to give Boston its first lead in nearly 36 minutes, followed that with the game-saving steal and then clinched the 114-111 victory at Indiana with two free throws Saturday night to give Celtics a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Celtics overcame an 18-point deficit in the second half and can earn their second NBA Finals trip in three years with another win Monday at Indiana.
“I’m all right, had a fever, slept a lot. But I feel OK,” Holiday said. “I just made a play (at the end). He’s a great player, had a great game. I just made a play.”
Holiday finished with 14 points, five in the final 39 seconds, and had nine rebounds on a night that, at times, he appeared to be under the weather. Afterward, though, he sounded like himself and felt well enough to balance his children on his lap.
As Holiday struggled to find his footing, Boston's other players got the job done.
Jayson Tatum matched his playoff career high with 36 points and had 10 rebounds and eight assists. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, and 37-year-old Al Horford had 23 points and was 7-of-12 on 3-pointers.
But it was Holiday’s late-game heroics that silenced Indiana’s raucous crowd and kept Boston a perfect 5-0 on the road in this season's playoffs.
“I’m glad we got him, Jrue’s a hell of a competitor,” Tatum said. “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 Pacers were already facing a formidable road back in this series - even before they learned All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton would not play in Game 3 because of a left hamstring injury. It's not clear if he'll be available for Game 4, either.
Still, the Pacers refused to break.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with a career-high 32 points before Holiday stole the ball from him with 3.3 seconds remaining. T.J. McConnell finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam each had 22 points. Turner also had 10 rebounds.
Indiana had a chance to force overtime but Aaron Nesmith’s 3-pointer was off the mark.
As well as the Pacers played, scoring 69 points in the first half, twice taking 18-point leads and still holding a 107-99 advantage with three minutes to go against the NBA's top team, it was clear the Pacers missed having Haliburton on the court.
“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.”
Still, a sellout crowd decked primarily in gold checkered flag shirts featuring dozens of individual stamps of Indiana's state outline and filled with actors here for the Indianapolis 500 weekend celebration, helped energize the Pacers as they had through the first playoff home games, all wins.
But Holiday's finishing flurry - a big layup, the go-ahead free throw, the defensive play of the game and two free throws to seal it with 1.1 left - quieted the crowd on a wild night.
Indiana built an 18-point lead midway through the second quarter and matched that margin again midway through the third. The second time, Boston used a series of Indiana turnovers to spur a 13-4 spurt that got them within 90-81 after three.
The Celtics then opened the fourth on a 9-3 run that got them within 93-90 on Horford's 3 with 8:29 to go.
Indiana answered by rebuilding a 107-99 cushion with 3:05 left, only to watch Boston go on a 13-2 run fueled by Holiday.
“We've met every challenge,” Tatum said. “We're in 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.”
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Al Horford vs. Myles Turner (Derrick White gains possession) | ||
| 11:52 |  | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving finger roll layup (Derrick White assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:28 | | Pascal Siakam misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:26 | | Celtics defensive rebound | ||
| 11:12 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 5-0 |
| 10:58 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving floating jump shot (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 5-2 |
| 10:40 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup (Derrick White assists) | 7-2 |
| 10:40 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 10:40 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-2 |
| 10:28 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point turnaround jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 8-4 |
| 10:13 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 11-4 |
| 10:01 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving finger roll layup | 11-6 |
| 10:01 | | Al Horford shooting foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 10:01 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-7 |
| 9:42 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point jump shot | 13-7 |
| 9:24 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving finger roll layup (Pascal Siakam assists) | 13-9 |
| 9:03 | | +3 | Derrick White makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-9 |
| 8:47 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point turnaround jump shot (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 16-11 |
| 8:25 | | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:23 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:12 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 8:00 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | Derrick White blocks Myles Turner's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:47 | | Celtics defensive rebound | ||
| 7:45 | | Pascal Siakam personal foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | Payton Pritchard offensive foul (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | Payton Pritchard turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:20 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving layup | 16-13 |
| 7:04 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving finger roll layup | 18-13 |
| 6:58 | | Jayson Tatum personal foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul) | ||
| 6:58 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:43 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point hook shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 18-15 |
| 6:21 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point stepback jump shot | 21-15 |
| 6:06 | | Pascal Siakam misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:02 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point running jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 24-15 |
| 5:46 | | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul) | ||
| 5:34 | | Derrick White shooting foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | ||
| 5:34 | | +1 | T.J. McConnell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-16 |
| 5:34 | | +1 | T.J. McConnell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-17 |
| 5:10 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:10 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 5:10 | | Celtics turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:56 | | Isaiah Jackson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:53 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 4:44 | | Isaiah Jackson blocks Jaylen Brown's two point layup | ||
| 4:42 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:38 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point running layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 24-19 |
| 4:36 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:20 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:16 | | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 4:07 | | Isaiah Jackson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 4:03 | | Oshae Brissett defensive rebound | ||
| 4:01 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running finger roll layup | 26-19 |
| 3:43 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 26-21 |
| 3:30 | | Andrew Nembhard shooting foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul) | ||
| 3:30 | | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-21 |
| 3:30 | | +1 | Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-21 |
| 3:20 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 28-23 |
| 3:01 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving layup | 30-23 |
| 2:50 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point layup | ||
| 2:47 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 2:36 | | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:34 | | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 2:27 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point running pullup jump shot | 30-25 |
| 2:15 | | Payton Pritchard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:13 | | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 2:10 | | Oshae Brissett shooting foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 2:10 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-26 |
| 2:10 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-27 |
| 1:59 | | Pascal Siakam personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 1:48 | | Sam Hauser misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:44 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 1:38 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point running reverse layup (Obi Toppin assists) | 30-29 |
| 1:20 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 32-29 |
| 0:56 | | Myles Turner turnover (double dribble) | ||
| 0:38 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 0:38 | | Jayson Tatum misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 0:38 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 0:38 | | Jayson Tatum misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:36 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 0:30 | | Obi Toppin misses two point driving bank jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | T.J. McConnell offensive rebound | ||
| 0:25 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point dunk | 32-31 |
| 0:04 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | T.J. McConnell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:50 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point bank hook shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 32-33 |
| 11:34 | | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:32 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 11:23 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:14 | | Sam Hauser personal foul (Obi Toppin draws the foul) | ||
| 11:07 | | Derrick White blocks Ben Sheppard's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 11:00 | | Ben Sheppard shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | ||
| 11:00 | | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-33 |
| 11:00 | | Derrick White misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:58 | | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:44 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 33-35 |
| 10:30 | | Jrue Holiday misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 10:27 | | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:12 | | Oshae Brissett shooting foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul) | ||
| 10:12 | | +1 | Andrew Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-36 |
| 10:12 | | +1 | Andrew Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-37 |
| 9:57 | | Andrew Nembhard personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | ||
| 9:48 | | Doug McDermott shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 9:48 | | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:48 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | +1 | Jaylen Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-37 |
| 9:33 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-39 |
| 9:16 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:12 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | Myles Turner offensive foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 8:56 | | Myles Turner turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:44 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 37-39 |
| 8:30 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving finger roll layup (Pascal Siakam assists) | 37-41 |
| 8:17 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:15 | | Pacers defensive rebound | ||
| 7:59 | | Derrick White flagrant 1 (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 7:59 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes flagrant free throw 1 of 3 | 37-42 |
| 7:59 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes flagrant free throw 2 of 3 | 37-43 |
| 7:59 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes flagrant free throw 3 of 3 | 37-44 |
| 7:51 | | Myles Turner turnover (bad pass) (Al Horford steals) | ||
| 7:46 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point running jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 40-44 |
| 7:26 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point pullup jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 40-46 |
| 7:18 | | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:16 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 7:09 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 40-48 |
| 7:07 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:47 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:44 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | Al Horford blocks Isaiah Jackson's two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 6:34 | | Payton Pritchard defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point running dunk (Payton Pritchard assists) | 42-48 |
| 6:08 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 42-51 |
| 5:40 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving finger roll layup | 44-51 |
| 5:31 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving floating jump shot | 44-53 |
| 5:17 | | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:13 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 5:09 | | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point running pullup jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 44-55 |
| 5:08 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:53 | | Xavier Tillman turnover (bad pass) (T.J. McConnell steals) | ||
| 4:49 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point running dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 44-57 |
| 4:26 | | Jrue Holiday turnover (bad pass) (Pascal Siakam steals) | ||
| 4:19 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 44-59 |
| 3:58 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving floating jump shot | 46-59 |
| 3:28 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot | 46-61 |
| 3:07 | | Jaylen Brown misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:04 | | Al Horford offensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 2:48 | | T.J. McConnell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:46 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:43 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 46-64 |
| 2:27 | | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:23 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | ||
| 2:21 | | Aaron Nesmith turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals) | ||
| 2:11 | | +3 | Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 49-64 |
| 1:54 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:51 | | Ben Sheppard offensive rebound | ||
| 1:49 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:45 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 1:34 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:31 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving finger roll layup (Pascal Siakam assists) | 49-66 |
| 1:03 | | +3 | Jaylen Brown makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 52-66 |
| 0:52 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:49 | | Xavier Tillman defensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 55-66 |
| 0:24 | | Andrew Nembhard turnover (lost ball) (Jrue Holiday steals) | ||
| 0:22 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Jrue Holiday assists) | 57-66 |
| 0:06 | | Xavier Tillman personal foul (Take) (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul) | ||
| 0:04 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 57-69 |
| 0:00 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |