When Jaylen Brown’s improbable 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation helped the Celtics eventually escape with an overtime win over the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday, there was a sense that Indiana, a massive underdog, would not get an opportunity that perfect again.
And Game 2 on Thursday unfolded in the manner that many expected all along. The Celtics overpowered the Pacers with their powerful drives to the rim, with Brown leading the way, and eventually rolled to a 126-110 win that gave them a 2-0 series lead.
For the Pacers, the series deficit and the health of All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton are substantial concerns. Haliburton left the game with 3:44 left in the third quarter and never returned, officially ruled out with left leg soreness. He was sidelined with a left hamstring strain in January. If he misses the rest of this series, the Pacers’ already small chances would almost certainly be reduced to zero.
The Celtics missed plenty of open looks during their rocky shooting start, but their work on the offensive glass ensured that it was not damaging. Boston gobbled up offensive rebounds on six of its 14 missed shots in the opening quarter, and held a 7-2 lead in second-chance points. Then at the start of the second quarter, Al Horford grabbed his own missed shot and found Sam Hauser, whose 3-pointer rattled out. But four Pacers stood in the paint and watched Brown streak in for the rebound and putback. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle instantly called time out, surely frustrated by that level of effort.
One game after his massive 3-pointer helped the Celtics to their Game 1 win, Brown erupted for 40 points to lead his team. He was serenaded with “MVP” chants on several trips to the foul line. Derrick White added 23 points for the Celtics, who shot 53.4 percent from the field. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points.
Late in the first quarter, Indiana’s Obi Toppin had the ball knocked out of bounds on a drive. The officials ruled that it went out off Boston, and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla instantly called a timeout and swirled his index finger, indicating that he wanted to challenge the play. The green challenge light at the scorer’s table went on, too. But when the players returned to the court there was no announcement, and the Pacers still had the ball. The most likely explanation is that the Celtics’ video team on the bench informed Mazzulla that they’d lose the challenge, so they were able to wave it off while still taking the timeout. It was certainly unusual.
▪ The first half was a struggle for Jayson Tatum. He missed a pair of open, in-rhythm 3-pointers early and never looked comfortable in the game’s flow. He went to halftime just 2 for 8 from the field, with 4 points, 3 turnovers, and 2 assists. He had success getting to the rim in the second half but still couldn’t find success from beyond the arc.
▪ The good news for the Celtics was that they thrived during Tatum’s four-minute break to start the second quarter, an area that was a struggle in Game 1. Tatum’s time on the bench turned out to be the meat of the Celtics’ massive 20-0 run that put them in control.
