The first game of the Eastern Conference Finals kicked off with the Boston Celtics hosting the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. Despite facing a scare from the Pacers, the Celtics managed to pull off a win in overtime. Indiana had control, with a five-point lead under two minutes left in the game. They even had a three-point lead with fewer than 10 seconds left, looking like they had secured the victory. However, a crucial turnover allowed Jaylen Brown to hit a game-tying three-pointer, sending it into overtime.
Although the Pacers took an early lead in overtime, the Celtics mounted a comeback to secure a 133-128 victory. A win on the road would have been significant for the underdog Pacers, altering the dynamics of the series. Unfortunately, they couldn’t capitalize on their chances, resulting in the Celtics taking a 1-0 series lead.
Despite the Pacers’ promising start, they faltered when it mattered most. They missed out on opportunities in both regulation and overtime. The Celtics now hold the advantage heading into game two, set to take place in Boston on Thursday. The Pacers will need to regroup and come back stronger to avoid falling further behind in the series.
