It was a tougher task than expected, but the Boston Celtics finished Game 4 with a 3-0 lead against an undermanned Indiana Pacers.
Led by Jayson Tatum's 36 points, the Eastern Division's top seed overcame an 18-point deficit to post a heart-breaking 114-111 victory over the Pacers on Saturday in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, who left Game 3 with a hamstring injury and was ruled out just hours before Game 4. Andrew Nembard replaced Haliburton and delivered a typical Haliburton performance, scoring a career-high 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting and recording nine assists.
That, coupled with 20-plus point performances from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and bench hero TJ McConnell, looked like enough.
Instead, the Celtics steadily chipped away at the lead throughout the second half. Tatum led the way, finishing with 36 points on 12-of-23 shooting, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks and zero turnovers. The Celtics' lead was down to five early in the fourth quarter, then quickly to three, then down to two with 1:12 left in the game.
Jrue Holiday finally sealed the win with an and-one in the final seconds of the game, scoring after contact with Siakam.
Holiday, who was questionable due to an illness, stole the ball from Nembard with four seconds left in what could have been a sealable win for the Pacers, again putting the game in jeopardy.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which had been buzzing throughout the game, went quiet as officials reviewed Holiday for an apparent passing foul. The decision was in favor of the Pacers, but Holiday still got two free throws to give the Pacers a three-point lead with 1.7 seconds left.
Indiana still had one final chance to tie the game after leading by double digits for most of the second quarter. They made what looked like a football play, handing the ball to a running back Nembard, who was able to get the ball to the basket. His buzzer beater went off and the game was over..
The Celtic celebrated a goal with contact from Nembard but no whistle was blown, leaving manager Carlisle furious.
Al Horford makes history individually and in the NBA playoffs
As much as the Pacers lament the absence of Haliburton, the Celtics have played the entire series without starting center Kristaps Porzingis. The reason they're not complaining is because of Al Horford's play.
The 37-year-old veteran was once again the difference-maker in the starting lineup, scoring 23 points on 7-of-12 3-pointers, a career-high for Horford in his 17th NBA season and making him the oldest player in NBA history to make seven 3-pointers in a playoff game.
Al Horford tonight:
▫️23 Points
▫️5 Rebounds
▫️1 Steal | 3 Blocks
▫️8/14 FG (7/12 3FG) — Career best— Celtics Unite (@CelticsUnite18) May 26, 2024
Porzingis is reportedly expected to return for Game 4, but thanks to Horford, the Celtics may have the luxury of not needing him and be able to give the Latvian plenty of rest before the NBA Finals.
Andrew Nembard was amazing.
Nembard came close to an iconic playoff moment with a final 3-pointer, and what happened Saturday remains in the memory of perhaps the most memorable night of his basketball career.
For Nembard, his 32 points weren't just a playoff or season high. They were the most points he's ever scored in a game in his NBA and college careers combined. And he did it against a Celtics team that boasts one of the best defenses in the NBA, with Holiday, Derrick White and Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the perimeter.
Nembard was a second-round draft pick in 2022 and quickly established himself in the Pacers' starting rotation, remaining there as the Pacers rose through the Eastern Conference standings this season. With Haliburton out, Indiana started Ben Sheppard and gave Nembard the primary ball-handling duties.
Game 3 showed that Nembard's potential may be higher than anyone expected, but that's not much consolation with the Pacers' season likely over.
