Saturday, Might 25 at 8:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Recreation Preview
The Pacers discover themselves in a well-recognized place heading into Recreation 3 of the Japanese Convention Finals on Saturday night time at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana dropped two video games in Boston to open the best-of-seven sequence and returns residence trailing 0-2, identical to they did within the Japanese Convention Semifinals towards New York.
The Blue & Gold have been capable of overcome that deficit within the final spherical, successful Video games 3 and 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and finally taking the sequence in seven video games.
It will not be a simple job to repeat this spherical, but when the Pacers are going to climb again into this sequence, it’s going to begin on Saturday.
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Comply with Indiana’s Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>
No group has been harder to beat at residence over the past two months than the Pacers. Indiana is an ideal 6-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse within the playoffs — the one remaining group within the postseason that has but to drop a house sport. Courting again to the common season, the Pacers have gained 11 straight residence video games and having misplaced in Indiana since March 18.
The Celtics, in the meantime, are an ideal 4-0 on the highway within the playoffs, sweeping two highway video games in Miami within the first spherical and Cleveland within the second spherical. One thing has to present on Saturday.
RELATED: After Celtics Held Serve, Pacers Ready to Shield House Court docket >>
The largest query heading into Saturday is the well being of Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton exited with 3:44 remaining within the third quarter of Recreation 2 on Thursday and didn’t return after being identified with a sore left hamstring. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle mentioned that Haliburton can be evaluated Friday.
“We hope that this can be a very short-term aggravation,” Carlisle mentioned “However once more, we’ll know extra tomorrow after which Saturday clearly, the following sport is coming shortly.”
Not having Haliburton for Recreation 3 can be a big blow for Indiana. The 24-year-old is averaging 18.7 factors and eight.2 assists per sport within the playoffs and is the driving drive behind one of many league’s most dynamic offenses.
With out Haliburton (or with a restricted model of him), the Pacers would rely extra closely on Pascal Siakam has their lead possibility. The 2-time All-Star is coming off an amazing efficiency in Recreation 2, the place he scored 28 factors on 13-of-17 capturing, at one level scoring 20 of 24 factors for Indiana throughout the tip of the primary and begin of the second halves.
Though Haliburton is Indiana’s star, the Pacers do have two different succesful level guards who’ve had robust postseasons. Second-year guard Andrew Nembhard has been beginning at capturing guard, however can slide over to the purpose. He’s averaging 13.1 factors and 5 assists within the playoffs whereas capturing 55.9 % from the sector and 46.8 % from 3-point vary. Veteran backup T.J. McConnell has been a spark plug off the bench, averaging 10.8 factors and 5.1 assists whereas capturing 48 % from the sector.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Celtics: G – Jrue Vacation, G – Derrick White, F – Jaylen Brown, F – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford
Damage Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – TBA (sore left hamstring), Bennedict Mathurin – out (proper shoulder labral tear)
Celtics: Luke Kornet – TBA (left wrist sprain), Kristaps Porzingis – TBA (proper soleus pressure)
Final Assembly
Might 23, 2024: Jaylen Brown matched his playoff profession excessive with 40 factors because the Celtics used a number of key runs to return away with a 126-110 win in Recreation 2 at TD Backyard.
The Celtics surged forward at first of the second quarter, after they reeled off 17 straight factors, after which pushed the margin to double digits for good with a 16-5 spurt within the third quarter after Indiana had drawn inside two.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with a team-high 28 factors whereas going 13-for-17 from the sector (2-for-2 from 3-point vary). Andrew Nembhard completed with 16 factors and 5 assists within the loss for Indiana, whereas Obi Toppin scored 11 factors off the bench.
Derrick White added 23 factors, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists for Boston, whereas All-NBA ahead Jayson Tatum tallied 23 factors, six rebounds, and 5 assists.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers are 1-8 all-time when falling behind 0-2 in a best-of-seven sequence, however that gained sequence win got here within the final spherical towards the Knicks.
- Saturday’s sport will likely be a “gold out,” with all followers in attendance receiving a gold t-shirt that includes the Pacers emblem on a checkered flag background.
- That is the seventh playoff sequence between the Pacers and the Celtics. All of their earlier conferences occurred within the first spherical. Indiana gained in 2004 and 2005, whereas Boston took the opposite 4 sequence in 1991, 1992, 2003, and 2019.
- The Pacers and Celtics have met within the postseason six occasions, however all of their earlier conferences occurred within the first spherical. Indiana gained in 2004 and 2005, whereas Boston took the opposite 4 sequence in 1991, 1992, 2003, and 2019.
- That is Indiana’s ninth look within the Japanese Convention Finals, with all these look coming within the final 30 years. Solely 4 groups have extra convention finals appearances over that span: the Spurs with 11 and the Lakers, Warmth, and Celtics with 10 every.
Broadcast Data (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ABC – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
Tickets
The Japanese Convention Finals will shift to Indianapolis when the Pacers host the Celtics for Recreation 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, Might 25 at 8:30 PM ET. Discover Tickets >>