Jaylen Brown hit a remarkable 3-pointer with less than six seconds left to save the Celtics and force overtime against the Indiana Pacers, before Boston won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including 10 in overtime, as the Celtics rallied just in time for a 133-128 victory at TD Garden.
Jrue Holiday added a season-high 28 points and Brown finished with 26.
Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who hit 13 3-pointers and scored 56 points in the paint against a Celtics team still playing without 7-foot Kristaps Porzingis.
Pascal Siakam added 24 points and 12 rebounds. Myles Turner finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who twice blew three-point leads in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
Jaylen Brown hit a remarkable three-pointer with less than six seconds left to save the Celtics.
Brown hit a devastating 3-pointer from the corner with Pascal Siakam right in his face to tie the score at 117.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 25 points and 10 assists for the Pacers but it wasn’t enough as they lost
Brown made them pay for the second, sinking a 3-pointer from the corner with Siakam right in his face to tie the score at 117.
Indiana took a 123-121 lead again when Haliburton made all three free throws after being fouled with 1:46 remaining. Then Tatum made a layup and TJ McConnell fouled out. He completed the three-point play to put Boston ahead for good.
The Pacers lost control again, this time because of Haliburton. The ball came to Tatum at the top of the key. He pumped, ducked a defender and hit a 3-pointer to make the score 127-123 with 43 seconds left.
Derrick White and Siakam traded layups. Holiday was fouled and made two free throws to give Boston a cushion of 131-125. Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston.
More to follow.