The Boston Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals on Monday by completing a sweep of the Indiana Pacers with a dramatic 105-102 victory.
Indiana, playing at home, led by nine with 8:57 left, but gave up a late lead for the third time in four games as the Celtics returned to the Finals after reaching there in 2022.
Boston got 29 points from Jaylen Brown, who was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after the win, while Jayson Tatum added 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
The victory came just hours after the death of franchise great Bill Walton was announced.
Walton spent only two seasons in Boston, but made his mark as part of the 1986 championship team.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points and was later named MVP of the Eastern Finals.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum hug after the game on the court.
The Pacers honored him before the game began at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
With Indiana up six with 7:23 remaining, Brown accidentally caught the Pacers’ TJ McConnell in the face, sending the guard flying to the ground and leaving him writhing in pain on the ground.
To the dismay of the home fans, the play was not called a flagrant foul and appeared to serve as a turning point for the visitors, who outscored their hosts 17-8 the rest of the game.
After Brown scored a floater to tie the game at 102 with 2:40 remaining, a series of frantic possessions held both teams scoreless for the next two minutes.
Boston forced two turnovers and Brown blocked Andrew Nembhard’s short shot at the rim with 1:05 left.
But Derrick White hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 45 seconds left and that was enough for Boston to hold on after Jrue Holiday chased down a missed Jayson Tatum 3-pointer with eight seconds left, with Boston running out the clock before Indiana could. lack.
Al Horford is seen celebrating the victory as the final buzzer of the game sounds Monday night.
The Indiana Pacers paid tribute to Bill Walton before their playoff game against the Celtics
Indiana, playing again without two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, lost its second straight home game, as Nembhard led the team with 24 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, while McConnell scored 15 points and Aaron Nesmith 14.
The Celtics will likely face the Dallas Mavericks, who lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Either way, they’ll have plenty of time to rest since the Finals don’t start until June 6, giving injured center Kristaps Porzingis more than a week to recover.