With the shot clock winding down and additional time closing because the Celtics barely held on to a two-point lead, Jayson Tatum air-balled a 3-pointer, however didn’t give up on the play. Marcus Smart corralled the rebound, missed a shot, however there was Tatum, crashing the glass and tossing within the dagger tip-in.
As the Pacers referred to as a timeout, the Celtics star jogged again in the direction of his bench, closed his eyes and shook his head. The successful play encapsulated his evening, but additionally the Celtics’ resolve in a wild 142-138 additional time victory that required it.
In their return from the All-Star break, Tatum – the All-Star Game MVP on Sunday – appeared to endure from a All-Star hangover on a 9-for-25 capturing evening. The Celtics coughed up a 16-point first-half lead and one other nine-point cushion within the fourth as they acquired all they may deal with from the pesky Pacers, Myles Turner’s 40 factors and All-Star Tyrese Haliburton’s 22 factors and 14 factors. Turnovers mounted on a sloppy evening. But the C’s discovered a manner.
On a uncommon evening when the Celtics discovered themselves absolutely wholesome, they began their most popular 5 of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Robert Williams. A masked Brown scored 30 factors in his return from a facial fracture, however the Celtics obtained one other championship-level effort from their bench as Malcolm Brogdon scored 24 factors, together with 5 3-pointers, in his return to Indiana and Derrick White added 17. Even Sam Hauser made an enormous distinction, with three blocks and a few huge photographs.
The Celtics survived a recreation that featured 22 lead modifications – together with 12 in a wild third quarter – as some feelings boiled over, with Smart getting a technical foul for flexing on Haliburton. They have been removed from excellent, particularly defensively as they let the Pacers run free for simple factors and a sizzling capturing evening. But the C’s persevered and overcame some rust. They pulled down a season-high 20 offensive rebounds, which included Tatum’s game-clinching tip-in.
Source: www.bostonherald.com