By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Boston Celtics were on the verge of defeat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but Jaylen Brown hit a big three that forced overtime.
In the added five minutes, Jayson Tatum took over, and the Celtics defended home court, defeating the Indiana Pacers 133-128 at TD Garden after an exciting 53 minutes of play.
Tatum scored 11 of Boston’s 16 points in overtime, finishing the game with 36 points and 12 rebounds, while Brown added 26 points and seven boards, hitting the crucial three-pointer to help the Celtics survive and force OT.
Jrue Holiday had his career-best performance in a Boston jersey with 28 points, nearly achieving a triple-double with eight assists and seven boards. Al Horford and Derrick White added 15 points each, with the latter just one assist shy of a double-double.
For the Pacers, who had more than 35 assists for the third time in these playoffs (38), while no one else has done it even once, three players recorded double-doubles: Tyrese Haliburton with 25 points and 10 assists, Pascal Siakam with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Myles Turner scoring 23 points with 10 boards.