The Pacers lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics in one of the most painful ways possible.
After trailing Boston by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, Indiana regained the lead with less than five minutes left in the quarter. Then things went wrong in the final moments of the regulation.
With 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Pacers had the ball, a three-point lead and a probability of winning of more than 90 percent. A few setbacks later, Indiana was preparing for overtime against the top seed in the East.
Here’s what went wrong for the Pacers in the fourth quarter and overtime.
How the Pacers drowned out Game 1 of the Eastern Finals against the Celtics
lost the ball
Turnovers plagued the Pacers throughout Game 1. Indiana committed 21 turnovers in the game, but none were more crucial than the two they committed in the final 30 seconds of the game.
Leading 117-114, Indiana made a crucial stop and regained possession with a chance to make it a two-possession game. Tyrese Haliburton committed an unforced turnover, dribbling from his knee to give the ball back to the Celtics.
Despite the mishap, the Pacers came up with another defensive stop, forcing the Celtics to commit a foul with 10.0 seconds left. Because Indiana was not yet in the bonus, he had to snap the ball from the sideline, setting up his most crucial turnover.
After the Celtics regained possession, things went from bad to worse for the Pacers.
Jaylen Brown’s triple
With 8.5 seconds left, Boston, trailing by three, put the ball in from under their basket. Jaylen Brown briefly broke free to the left corner before being met by an intense closeout from Indiana’s Pascal Siakam.
Brown stood his ground and hit an incredibly difficult 3-pointer in the corner on Siakam, who did his best not to foul.
JAYLEN BROWN TIES THE GAME AT 117!
5 SECONDS LEFT OF GAME 1 ON ESPN #NBAConferenceFinals brought to you by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/QS6b3v8Kjy
—NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
Brown’s game-tying three-pointer immediately brought back the philosophical discussion about whether or not basketball teams with a three-point lead should intentionally foul to prevent the teams from tying the game.
LeBron James was among the many who intervened.
And you all still want to know why I would commit 3 EVERY TIME? ??♂️??♂️??♂️
– LeBron James (@KingJames) May 22, 2024
Overtime problems
Despite the demoralizing end to regulation, the Pacers still had chances in overtime.
With 1:46 left in overtime, Haliburton made three free throws to put Indiana back up by two points. It would be the Pacers’ last lead of the game.
On the next possession, Indiana gave up three offensive rebounds before Jayson Tatum put Boston ahead with an and-one finish. One play later, another Haliburton turnover led to a turnover. And the Celtics took a four-point lead after a three-pointer by Tatum with 42 seconds left.
The Pacers would lose the ball again on the next possession and Boston’s lead increased to six points after a layup by Derrick White. Indiana would play the dirty game from that point on, but it was too late.
The first game goes to Boston.
Rick Carlisle takes blame for Pacers’ loss
“This loss is totally on me,” Carlisle saying as he stood on the podium after Game 1.
“With 10 seconds (left) in regulation, we should have just taken the timeout, advanced the ball and found a way to get it in, made one or two free throws and finished the game, but it didn’t happen.”
Carlisle recalled Nembhard’s turnover after Boston’s first intentional foul with 10 seconds left. The Pacers had one timeout left and if they had used it, they would have advanced the ball to the front court.
Getting the ball into the offensive zone would have greatly diminished the chances of such a catastrophic turn of events for Indiana.
“We made some other mistakes,” Carlisle added, “but our guys just need to focus on fighting like they fought this game from start to finish and we’ll be back on Thursday.”
Indiana missed a golden opportunity to steal home court in Game 1, but will return to action less than 48 hours after the final buzzer sounded.
Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
(1) Celtics vs. (6) Pacers: Boston leads 1-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/live broadcast |
| May 21th | Celts 133Pacers 128 (overtime) | — | — |
| may 23 | Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| 25 of May | Game 3 | 8:30 pm | ABC, Sling |
| may 27th | Game 4 | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| May 29 | 5* game | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| may 31 | Game 6* | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
| June 2nd | Game 7* | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
*If necessary
