Celtics Sweep Pacers to Reach NBA Finals

Jaylen Brown's stellar performance throughout the series earned him the Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals MVP. Team owner Wyc Grousbeck dedicated the victory to Bill Walton, who passed away earlier that day. The game was a tightly contested battle, but Boston managed to pull ahead in the final moments with a crucial 3-pointer by Derrick White. Andrew Nembhard had a chance to tie the game but missed, allowing the Celtics to clinch the series with a 4-0 sweep. Brown led the Celtics with 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting, along with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals. One of his assists set up White's pivotal shot. Jayson Tatum also contributed significantly with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. The Pacers, missing All-Star Tyrese Haliburton for the second consecutive game, were led by Nembhard's 24 points. T.J. McConnell added 15 points off the bench, while Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Pacers fell short. For Indiana, it was another game filled with regret. After Nembhard's and-1 layup gave them a 9-point lead in the fourth quarter, McConnell missed an uncontested layup with 8:35 remaining that would have extended their lead to double digits. Instead, Boston closed the game with a 20-8 run, marking the third time in four games that the Celtics came from behind in the fourth quarter. "Give them credit for the stuff they pulled off at the end of the last two games," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "They simply made more plays. They blocked shots. They got offensive rebounds. They made key shots." The Celtics now await their Finals opponent, either the Mavericks or Timberwolves, and hope to have Kristaps Porzingis back in action. Meanwhile, the Pacers will reflect on a successful 2024 season and look forward to a promising future.