With the All-Star Break within the rear-view mirror, simply 22 video games stay for the Boston Celtics. They kicked off the stretch run of the 2022-23 season on Thursday evening, with a watch in the direction of the highest seed within the Jap Convention. Of their return to the court docket, the Indiana Pacers might not have appeared like probably the most intimidating opponent, however they gave the Celtics all they might deal with tonight, pushing the sport into additional time in what was a spectacular return to common season basketball. In the end, the Celtics made the performs that mattered most, and walked away with a 142-138 additional time win.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led Boston’s scorers with 61 mixed factors, however the duo additionally mixed to shoot simply 20-of-49 from the sector in what was a little bit of a difficult effort, regardless of Indiana’s lack of wing depth. They had been buoyed by 41 mixed factors from the bench duo of Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White, who helped overcome a profession evening from Myles Turner (40 factors, 13-of-15 taking pictures, eight three-pointers) to take dwelling the win.
You’d be forgiven if you happen to felt such as you had been nonetheless watching the All-Star Recreation within the early minutes of this recreation, as protection felt principally non-obligatory within the Celtics’ return from their week off. The 2 groups posted almost an identical taking pictures strains, with the Celtics taking pictures 52% from the sector, 42% from three and 86% from the road, whereas the Pacers recorded marks of 52%, 42% and 85%, respectively. Offensive rebounding made the distinction; the Celtics grabbed 11 offensive boards to Indiana’s two, offering beneficial second-chance alternatives.
Derrick White was the early star, persevering with a scorching streak that started weeks earlier than the All-Star Break. Although he returned to the bench with the Celtics’ typical starters absolutely wholesome, he didn’t miss a beat when he returned to the court docket. He linked on his first 4 pictures from the sector — three of which got here from behind the arc — and scored 13 factors within the first half. Matching him was Brogdon, and the duo drove the Celtics to a 10-point halftime lead, 68-58.
The Celtics’ momentum melted away shortly as play resumed. The Pacers opened up the the second half on an 11-2 run that quickly slashed the Boston lead right down to only one level and prompted a Joe Mazzulla timeout. Main the best way for Indiana was Turner, who was completely unconscious from deep tonight (8-of-10 three-point taking pictures). Tensions rose as the 2 groups began to bark at each other, and a 39-point third quarter for the Pacers basically reset the ballgame, because the Celtics entered the fourth quarter with only a three-point lead, 100-97.
Well timed shot-making from Tatum and Brogdon supplied a slight course correction for the Celtics because the fourth quarter started, but it surely didn’t fend off Indiana for very lengthy. The Pacers attacked the rim relentlessly, earlier than three-pointers from Turner (his seventh, a career-high) and Benedict Mathurin inched them forward by two factors, 116-114, and prompted a Mazzulla timeout with 5:31 to play.
The 2 groups traded buckets for the following jiffy, earlier than Tatum discovered Brogdon within the nook to open up a four-point lead with simply over two minutes to play. The Pacers responded with a 3 of their very own from Haliburton, however fouled Brown behind the arc on the following possession to place him on the road for 3 free throws. Indiana coach Rick Carlisle challenged the play, just for the decision to be upheld, however the Celtics took only one level away from the sequence as Brown missed two of the freebies.
Haliburton hit a pair of his personal freebies on the opposite finish, and the sport was as soon as once more tangled up, 125 apiece, with a minute remaining. From there, neither crew may conjure something in crunch time. Each groups went scoreless throughout the ultimate minute, and the sport proceeded to additional time.
After the groups traded two-point possessions, Mathurin hit a three-pointer to place the Pacers forward by three. On the following possession, nevertheless, Mathurin fouled Sensible on a three-point try and picked up a technical foul for complaining concerning the name. The end result was 4 free throw makes an attempt for the Celtics, all of which had been makes, restoring the Celtics to a one-point benefit. Sensible linked on a midrange jumper — giving him seven factors early within the additional time interval — however Turner responded along with his eighth three-point to as soon as once more tie the sport with three minutes to play.
This recreation was removed from completed with its relentless tempo. The Celtics and Pacers continued to scrap for the following two minutes of regulation, earlier than a dunk from Brown gave Boston a 138-136 benefit. Horford was whistled for a foul on Haliburton with 1:16 remaining on the clock, and Mazzulla referred to as for a problem on the play, however was unsuccessful, and Haliburton as soon as once more tied the sport, 138 all.
Lastly, the sport drew to its shut. Haliburton put Tatum on the road for a pair of free throws, and after he transformed each, the Pacers couldn’t reply with a bucket of their very own. Well timed offensive rebounding earned Tatum a tip-in layup with 10 seconds remaining to offer the Celtics a four-point lead, and that might be the tip of the Pacers’ spectacular effort for the night.
Subsequent up, the Celtics have a weekend primetime matchup with implications within the Jap Convention. They’ll journey to Philadelphia this Saturday at 8:30 PM EST for a showdown with the third-place 76ers on ABC.
