Celtics Aim For East Region Final Sweeping, Pacers Won't Give Up

Botosn Celtics, need another game to qualify for the 2024 NBA final (photo: x @celtics)

JAKARTA - The Boston Celtics are in the top position, but Indiana Pacers coach Rick Badminton said his team will control the tempo in the Eastern Region's 4 finals. There is no reason for Indiana to step down on Monday evening 27 May or Tuesday morning WIB, in Indianapolis because no team has yet risen from the 3-0 deficit in NBA playoff history.

"We will not be hindered,"village said of the challenges to be faced. "We will return here Monday night to extend this series and we will play even harder. We have to. We have no other choice... believe me, we will attack them."

While the Pacers will continue to press, the Celtics will try to close this series. The leading Boston will advance to the Eastern Region final for the second time in three seasons with a narrow 114-111 win in Game 3 last Saturday, having risen from a deficit of 18 points in the third quarter.

"We've faced every challenge," said the Celtics star, Jayson Tatum. "We're in a good position now, one more win from the final. But we can't see past Monday or whatever, and we have a special opportunity to get back to the final."

Indiana played without the choice of a third All-NBA team, Tyrese Haliburton, in Game 3 and could also without the star's point guard on Monday. How come he hasn't had an injury update during a media session on Sunday.

Haliburton had a left hamstring injury in the first half of Game 2 and came out for good in the third quarter. In Game 1, he scored 25 points and 10 assists as Pacers lost 133-128 in extra time.

Haliburton missed so much at the end of Game 3. Indiana leads eight points with 2:38 remaining before Boston closes the game with a decisive 13-2 attack.

Point guard Celtics, Jrue Holiday, who was sick for most of the day, appeared full of enthusiasm to finish the game. Holiday scored three important points with 38 seconds remaining and added crucial steals with 3.3 seconds remaining when he forced Andrew Nembhard of Indiana to lose the ball. Holiday added two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining to ensure victory.

The Celtics Veteran, Al Horford, who also shines with 23 points and seven best three-point shots in his career, was fascinated by Holiday's brilliant steals. "That's incredible. It was an incredible game," Horford said. "A man comes at full speed and he has the instinct to do that. He's really a winner. In the end, that's the most important thing. He performed big for us."

Holiday, which was only allowed to play about 45 minutes before the game started, finished the game with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Tatum also stood out for Boston with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.

Despite making a turnover at the end, Nembhard performed brilliantly with the best performance in his two-year NBA career with the highest 32 points in his career and nine assists in 39 minutes. He made four three-point shots and became the main reason why Indiana was 18 points ahead.

"Ini hanya salah satu dari hal-hal di mana pemain berikutnya harus tampil dan saya pikir Andrew Nembhard meningkatkan playannya ke level yang lebih tinggi malam ini," kata pemain cadang Pacers, TJ McConnell, yang mencetak 23 poin, sembil rebound, dan enam asist. "Tapi dia telah bermain di level tinggi seluruh tahun dan benar-benar meningkatkan permainannya di postseason. Kami tidak akan berada di posisi itu tanpa dia."

Indiana promised to continue fighting while Tatum continued to remind that "The closing game is the most difficult.... Never relax. It's not over until it's over."

Meanwhile,men continue to insist that there is still a spirit left in the Pacers. "We were close to success but we will return on Monday and we will fight harder," he said.