Final: Celtics 114, Pacers 111 - C's steal Game 3 with clutch 4th quarter rally

BOSTON CELTICS at INDIANA PACERS

Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3

Boston leads 2-0

TD Garden, 8:30 p.m. - ABC

Line: Boston -7.5

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, calf), Jrue Holiday (QUESTIONABLE, illness), Luke Kornet (DOUBTFUL, wrist)

Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton (OUT, hamstring),  Benedict Mathurin (OUT, shoulder)

SERIES

Game 1: Celtics 133 - Pacers 128

The Celtics exploded out of the gate on a 12-0 run and held a lead of about seven for most of the quarter but the Pacers whipped off a late 11-5 run to make a three-point game after one. The Celtics got the lead back up to 10 but the Pacers shot the lights out, led by Myles Turner, to tie the game at the half. The Celtics methodically built a 13-point lead in the third, but a 16-4 answer cut the lead to just one heading into the fourth. Jrue Holiday carried Boston for a while, but the Pacers just couldn't miss. They also couldn't inbound up three with 10 seconds to go, opening the door for a Jaylen Brown 3 to send it to overtime. Jayson Tatum shook off a lot of struggles to score 10 in the overtime and give Boston the win. 

Game 2: Celtics 126 - Pacers 110

The Pacers came out hot, building a six-point lead but Boston dominated the offensive boards to keep it close after one. They stormed out to a 17-0 start to the second quarter and built a 16-point lead in the second. Jaylen Brown dropped 17 in the quarter but a late run cut Boston’s lead to six at the half. Pascal Siakam got things close, but the trio of Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White helped push it to 13. Tatum really shook off his struggles in the fourth, going for 11 to close out the Pacers.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Energy: Haliburton is out, but that's not a death knell for the Pacers. I know a lot of people are already starting Indiana’s obituary, but their style is still dangerous without him. He can make spectacular plays and do things others can’t, but the fast, chaotic nature of their offense still requires Boston to match their energy. If the Celtics let down and don’t match Indy off the bat, this will get ugly early, especially considering the difference between the Pacers at home and on the road. 

Take the Pacers lightly at your own peril. If Boston matches Indy’s energy, then they can win going away, but the Pacers won’t give anything away. 

2. Tatum’s shooting: This one is simple. I want to see Tatum get going early by getting to the basket, getting some shots to fall early, and then finding his range from deep. 

I DON’T want to see him firing away from 3 right away, which he has a tendency to do when the shots aren’t falling for a long stretch, in an effort to see if he can dial it in. Let it happen organically and stick to the game plan. 

3. Going small again: Do they go right to Oshae Brissett first off the bench? Do they roll with some Xavier Tillman? Or do they try a completely different wrinkle? Some of it might depend on how the flow of the game is going, but I’d like to maybe hold Siakam to under 70% shooting somehow no matter what they try. 

4. Pacers home vs. Celtics road: Both records are perfect. Which one wins out?

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.