Jrue Holiday wasn’t at shootaround prior to Game 3. Instead, he was back at the team hotel, trying to sleep off a fever and chills.
His status was in doubt. Well, at least to the public.
Holiday knew he was going to play, regardless of how he felt. Determined to help the Celtics secure a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, he wasn’t about to sit this one out.
“I didn’t feel too well,” Holiday said. “But it’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, so I wasn’t going to miss this game.”
During his pregame warmups, Holiday wore a sweatshirt. Although he went through his typical routine with assistant coaches Charles Lee and Craig Lueschant, he looked far from his usual self.
When the game tipped off, he was clearly out of sorts.
Through the first three quarters, Holiday, who had been averaging 18.0 points on 34-of-53 (64.2%) shooting over the previous five games, posted a mere five points on 1-of-7 (14.2%) shooting. On the defensive end, he struggled to defend at the point of attack, with opponents often blowing by for easy drives to the bucket.
However, all of that will be forgotten because in the final 38 seconds, when the Celtics needed a hero, Holiday stepped up, sparking a season-defining rally and propelling the Celtics one step closer to returning to the NBA Finals.
With just under 40 seconds remaining and the Celtics trailing by two, Jayson Tatum found Jrue Holiday on the wing in transition. Holiday, who often defers in such situations, put the ball on the floor and drove right at Pascal Siakam, finishing through contact with his left hand and drawing an and-one in the process.
Holiday made the free throw, erasing an 18-point deficit and giving the Celtics their first lead since early in the second quarter.
“I think I just saw a chance and took an opportunity. I felt like he was on his heels. He wasn’t really expecting me to attack downhill,” Holiday said. “So, I attacked him and just tried to be aggressive and got the and-one. It wasn’t anything, just me being aggressive.”
He didn’t stop there.
After a string of misses by both teams, Tatum had a chance to effectively put the Pacers away but missed a driving lay-up with 10 seconds remaining. Andrew Nembhard grabbed the miss and came streaking up the sideline. He momentarily shook Holiday with a behind-the-back crossover, but Holiday recovered, and as Nembhard tried to cut into the middle of the court, Holiday knew it was coming.
“He’s a righthand driver,” the six-time All-Defensive guard said postgame. “He [Nembhard] had been very, very aggressive all night.”
Holiday read it like a book, poking the ball free and racing to the other end of the court, where he was fouled with 1.1 seconds remaining on the clock. The play impressed Al Horford so much that he described it as “unbelievable” once but, twice – a sentiment echoed by Celtics fans across the board.
“That was unbelievable. That was an unbelievable play,” Horford said. “A guy like that coming full speed, and having the instincts to do that. His instincts, he’s just a winner. Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to – he’s a winner. He stepped up in such a big way for us. Tonight, in that moment, also when he got the and-one, knocking down those free throws in the end. He’s a winner. I’m so fortunate to be paying next to him. I don’t take it for granted.”
Holiday then knocked down a pair of free throws, forcing the Pacers to attempt a three-pointer, which former Celtic Aaron Nesmith left just short from the corner.
As the Nesmith three rattled off the rim and the final buzzer sounded, teammates and coaches rushed off the bench to greet Holiday. In the end, the Pacers were the only ones feeling sick.
“I can’t speak highly enough about Jrue. The ultimate teammate, competitor, obviously a champion,” Tatum said on Holiday postgame. “Wasn’t at shootaround today. He was sick dealing with chills and stuff like that. And we’ve all been there, how tough that is to fight through it. And for him to come out there and lay it all on the line for us and make the game-winning play essentially, especially on the defensive end. Jrue is just a big-time player, and he made a tremendous play.”
While Holiday played over 38 minutes, those final 38 seconds will be remembered and frequently replayed on championship highlight reels — a scene in which Holiday is no stranger to starring.
“Jrue is different,” Jaylen Brown said simply on Holiday. “Nothing really else to say. Jrue is just different.”
What sets Holiday apart is his championship pedigree, a rare trait the Celtics have frequently relied on this season. This quality was on full display in Game 3. The great ones show up when it matters most, regardless of the circumstances, and Holiday did just that in Game 3.
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