The NBA Finals Game 4 between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers was a highly anticipated matchup, with the Celtics holding a commanding 3-0 series lead. The pressure was on for the Pacers to come out strong and avoid being swept in the series.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear that the Celtics were determined to close out the series and secure their spot in the next round. Their defense was suffocating, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy baskets on the other end. The Pacers struggled to find their rhythm offensively, as they were held to a season-low shooting percentage.
Jayson Tatum led the charge with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Dominican forward Al Horford added 23 points, including seven three-pointers, and contributed three crucial blocks. The Celtics' resilience left the Pacers struggling, despite their extraordinary effort throughout the game.
The Celtics are up 3-0 on the Indiana Pacers heading into Monday’s Game 4. Boston has had a couple slip-ups at home in these playoffs, but is a perfect 5-0 on the road and is a significant favorite to make that 6-0 and advance. The Pacers have had chances to win two games in this series, but are instead on the brink of elimination.
Boston closed the game on a 13-2 run, fueled by three-pointers from Tatum and Horford and a three-point play by Holiday. The C's starting point guard had been questionable for most of the day Saturday with an illness, but he went out and scored 14 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and came up with three steals for Boston. Holiday was money down the stretch, scoring the go-ahead bucket (and free throw) with 38 seconds left. He then came up huge on the defensive end, making a game-sealing steal on Andrew Nembhard with three seconds left (and hitting his free throws) to give Boston its improbable victory.
The Pacers know it, too, and that's why they intend to show the basketball world just how much fight they still have left Monday night.
Pascal Siakam, who won an NBA crown with Toronto in 2019. "Obviously, to this point we've had an incredible season and nobody wants to see it end. So we're going to fight to the end, and I think it's like let's get one win and give everything we have to win that game."
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