Celtics rally in fourth quarter to defeat Pacers, take commanding 3-0 lead in Eastern Conference finals of NBA Playoffs 2023-24

In a thrilling Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics emerged victorious over the Indiana Pacers with a final score of 114-111. Jrue Holiday played a crucial role in the Celtics’ win, converting a go-ahead three-point play and making a key steal in the final seconds of regulation.

Jayson Tatum led the charge for Boston with an impressive performance, recording 36 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Jaylen Brown and Al Horford also made significant contributions, scoring 24 and 23 points respectively. The top-seeded Celtics now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Despite a valiant effort from the Pacers, led by Andrew Nembhard’s career-best 32 points and nine assists, they fell short in their home arena. Indiana’s Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam each added 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Celtics’ late-game heroics.

The Pacers were without the services of Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined with a left hamstring injury. Holiday, who was cleared to play just before tipoff due to illness, finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.

With Game 4 set to take place in Indianapolis on Monday, the Celtics will look to close out the series and secure their spot in the NBA Finals. Boston’s resilience and clutch performances in Game 3 have put them in a favorable position as they aim to advance in the playoffs.