Despite facing an 0-3 series deficit, the Celtics knew that, heading into Game 4, the Indiana Pacers wouldn’t just lay down and give up.
“Closeout games are always the hardest. We don’t expect them to lay down and quit. [We] gotta be a little bit better, [we] gotta execute a little better, [we] gotta compete a little bit more,” Derrick White said.
The Celtics did close out the sweep Monday night, pulling out another late win, 105-102, on a go-ahead three Derrick White with 45 seconds to go. But the Pacers challenged the Celtics every game this series -- evidenced by the fact they had a greater than 90% chance of winning in two of the four games -- and Game 4 was no different.
In the early minutes, it looked like the Celtics were going to run away with the game.
On Boston’s second possession of the game, Jayson Tatum drilled a step-back three over an outstretched Pacers defender -- it was one of Boston’s four made threes in the opening minutes.
Usually, when the Celtics hit their threes like that, they run away with things. After all, they entered the night 10-0 in the postseason when they made more threes than their opponents and 64-7 if you include the regular season.
However, eight points from T.J. McConnell and a 16-9 (6-1 offensive) advantage on the glass helped the Pacers overcome Boston’s hot shooting start.
Boston cleaned up its efforts on the glass in the second quarter, but seven missed shots in the restricted area, parlayed with four turnovers, helped aid a 30-point quarter on 55.6% shooting.
Behind 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists from Jayson Tatum and another 10 apeice from Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics took a 58-57 lead into the intermission. After the hot three-point start for the Celtics, they cooled off considerably, making just four of their last 14 to end the half.
For Indiana, Andrew Nembhard, who had been a thorn in the Celtics’ side all series, led the way with 16 points, while Pascal Siakam contributed 13. Nembhard’s 14-foot floater at the buzzer gave the Pacers a surge of momentum heading into halftime, translating to the third quarter.
Indiana opened the third quarter on an 11-4 run, aided by some poor shot selections by the Celtics. Boston’s offense didn’t get much prettier from there. The Celtics shot 8-of-22 (36.4%) from the field and 2-of-12 (16.7%) from deep in the frame. With only 22 points scored, their lowest of the series, the stage was set for another close finish.
A Nembhard and-one gave the Pacers their largest lead of the night at nine points with 8:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, behind timely makes from Tatum and Brown, the Celtics stormed back, combining for 14 points between the 8:57 mark to tie the game at 2:40 mark to tie the game at 102-102.
Boston’s defense held Indiana scoreless over the final 2:40, and a White corner-three with 45.0 seconds left put the Celtics on top for good.
The Pacers would have had one last possession after Tatum misfired on a three-pointer with eight seconds left, but Jrue Holiday had other plans, snagging a clutch offensive rebound, allowing the Celtics to dribble out the clock and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
This marks the 25th sweep in Conference Finals history and the second time the Celtics have completed a sweep at this stage. The first was in the 1985-86 season, after which they went on to win the NBA Finals in six games over the Rockets.
The Celtics will now have nine (!) days off before making their 23rd NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.
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