I Boston Celtics they don’t capitalize on a great game start in Indianapolis and they give up by a single point against the Pacers, 108-107 the final result for the second defeat in three games for Jayson Tatum and companions.
The Celtics immediately sprint forward at the start of the race, also touching +11 but the Pacers have already remedied at the end of the first quarter, and in third period with 39 points in 12 minutes they take the lead even in double figures dragged by Malcolm Brogdon and by the triples by Doug McDermott. In the fourth period, however, the Celtics manage to recover and the last 5 minutes of the game are a head to head.
Boston manages with only 12 seconds left to put his head forward with Marcus Smart (11 points and 6 assists for him) on a defensive recovery in midfield after an Indiana mess. To remedy is Domantas Sabonis, who with 7 seconds from the end scores in penetration with Robert Williams’ foul for the new one +1 Pacers (108-107). The Lithuanian player misses the free throw and the last possession of the game is in the hands of Jayson Tatum.
Contro Brogdon, Tatum he is satisfied with a prohibitive distance shot on the siren, which ends short. The game ends, with the Celtics complaining about the too many turnovers (18) and for one defence sometimes too soft: i Pacers they scored 69 points in two quarters (the second and third), shooting with more than 60% from the field.
Per Jaylen Brown (18 points and 4 assists at the end of the match), “We fought alone, but we had our chance to win it and now we have to look to the next match, Which will still be against Indiana in the mini-series rematch. “We will have to be more physical and defend more“. I Pacers they closed with over 51% shot, despite the bad 7 out of 26 shooting from three points.
Yet senza Kemba Walker, the Celtics have suffered mainly against Malcolm Brogdon author of a test of 25 points and 5 assists, with 5 rebounds. For Sabonis a test of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and sealed by the decisive basket at the end of the match. Among the most disappointed at the end there is Jayson Tatum, which after two games in which surprisingly enough he had not earned any free throws, in Indianapolis he finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists but with 9 of 21 shooting, with 5 turnovers and a far from optimal management of the last possession. “The last action? My fault, I have to put much more pressure on the defense. Today I haven’t played at all at the level that I am capable of, and that people expect of me. I take my blame“.
For the Celtics to mention the good performances of Robert Williams and the rookie Payton Pritchard, who in 22 minutes of play finished with 5 out of 5 shooting and 13 points.
The Pacers played without Victor Oladipo, who, as scheduled, missed the second match of the back to back on the calendar, Indiana continues with his strong start and still is unbeaten at 3-0.
