In a stunning turn of events, the top-seeded Boston Celtics have taken a commanding 3-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite being the overwhelming favorite to win the series, the Celtics have faced tough competition from the Pacers, who have not gone down without a fight.
Game 1 saw the Pacers nearly pull off an upset, with Jaylen Brown hitting a game-tying shot to force overtime, but ultimately the Celtics emerged victorious. Game 2 was a different story, as Boston dominated on their home court before the series shifted to Indiana for Game 3.
In Game 3, the Pacers had a chance to secure a win, but late-game heroics from Jrue Holiday dashed their hopes. According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Pacers had over a 90% chance to win both Game 1 and Game 3 in the final two minutes, but historic late-game collapses have left them facing elimination heading into Game 4.
The Pacers’ star guard Tyrese Haliburton has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, further complicating their chances of a comeback. If Haliburton remains out for Game 4, the Pacers will have an uphill battle to stay alive in the series. However, if he can return to the court and the team can avoid late-game collapses, there may still be hope for Indiana to turn the tide and make a comeback against the Celtics.