BOSTON – The Boston Celtics finally know their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. Many were expecting a showdown between Boston and New York for a spot in the NBA Finals, but that Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Knicks in a Game 7 victory at Madison Square Garden. It's ruined.
The Pacers shot a whopping 76 percent in the first half and led by 15 points at intermission Sunday. Although they slowed down a bit in the second half, the Pacers continued to gain momentum, defeating the Knicks 130-109 and advancing to the conference finals for the ninth time in franchise history. Indiana shot 67.1 percent in Game 7, the highest field goal percentage in NBA history in a playoff game.
The Pacers are in a heated battle to take on the Celtics for a spot in the NBA Finals. If the upcoming series is anything like the regular season matchup, it should be a very interesting battle.
Celtics vs Pacers
The Pacers were the only team to average more points per game than the Celtics (120.6) during the regular season, and Indiana tied with every other team in the NBA with 123.3 points per game on 50.7 shooting, also He was the top in the NBA.
The big difference is that the Celtics, who won 64 games, also played an excellent defense and led the NBA with a whopping 11.3 points differential, sixth in NBA history. The Pacers aren't all that great defensively, ranking 27th in the entire NBA in points allowed at 120.2 points per game.
Boston and Indiana faced off five times during the regular season, with the Celtics winning three of them. In the first matchup at TD Garden on November 1st, the Celtics defeated the Pacers 155-104. The last time the Celtics scored that many points in a game was in the 1958-59 season with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. . Tatum led the way with 30 points, and six other Celtics scored 13 or more points.
The Pacers got revenge a month later in the in-season quarterfinals, defeating the Celtics 122-112, thanks to Tyrese Haliburton's first career triple-double. A month later, on January 6, the Celtics won 118–101 in Boston at Indiana, with Tatum making 8 3-pointers and scoring 38 points, and Jaylen Brown adding 31 points.
The Pacers hosted the Celtics again two nights later, winning that game 133-131 despite Haliburton's absence. Brown scored 40 points for the Celtics, who played without Tatum, but with 0.6 seconds left Benedict Mathurin (26 points) was fouled by Kristaps Porzingis on a 3-point shot and made the winning free throw, resulting in Boston's loss. .
The Celtics won the final game on January 30th at TD Garden with Tatum leading the way again. Brown scored 25 points for Boston, and Derrick White added 24 points for a game-high 30 points. Former Celtic Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers with 26 points, but Tatum blocked a layup attempt with 11 seconds left, and Boston held on for the win, 129-124.
Tatum was a powerhouse, averaging 32.5 points and shooting 57.8 percent overall and 48.6 percent from downtown in four games against the Pacers. Brown is no slouch, scoring 28.4 points on 60.6 percent shooting in five regular season games with Indy.
Indiana is a run-and-gun team, and Haliburton is one of the most talented and dangerous point guards in the NBA. Myles Turner is a tough opponent down there, but Pascal Siakam can win on either end, and Nesmith always brings a bundle of energy against his former team.
Boston's defense has its hands full against the fast-paced Pacers offense, but there is no excuse for the Celtics to lose this series. The Pacers will lead, but the Celtics are a much better team from top to bottom.
What is the schedule for the Eastern Conference finals?
Here's a complete look at the Celtics and Pacers' upcoming schedules.
Game 1: Tuesday, May 21, 8 p.m., Boston.
Game 2: Thursday, May 23 at 8 p.m. in Boston.
Game 3: Saturday, May 25th, 8:30 p.m., Indiana.
Game 4: Monday, May 27 at Indiana, 8 p.m.
Game 5: Wednesday, May 29, 8 p.m., Boston*
Game 6: Friday, May 31, 8 p.m., Indiana*
Game 7: Sunday, June 2, 8 p.m. Boston*
* If necessary
The Pacers had a perfect home record this postseason, going 6-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and being the only team left in the playoffs. The Celtics are 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, but 4-2 at TD Garden.
The Pacers finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the East, defeating the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the first round and then the Knicks in seven games to get there.
This will be the seventh time the Celtics and Pacers have met in the playoffs, but the first time they have met outside of the first round. Boston has won four of their previous postseason matchups, including their most recent game in 2019.
Will Kristaps Porzingis play in the Eastern Conference Finals?
celtics center Kristaps Porzingis He suffered a calf injury in the first round against the Miami Heat and was forced to miss the second round series win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Porzingis is close to returning to the court, but is expected to miss the start of the Eastern Conference finals.
According to ESPN, Porzingis will likely miss the first two games of the series. The report went on to say that “there is optimism” that Porzingis could return before the end of the series. The report suggests that the center, who averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his first season in Boston, is “increasing his on-court activity in preparation for a return in the conference finals.” are doing.
