INDIANAPOLIS — The Boston Celtics are on the brink of advancing to the NBA Finals as they face the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night on ESPN. Holding a commanding 3-0 series lead, the Celtics have a chance to complete a sweep and secure their second Finals appearance in three years.
You can watch the game for free on DirecTV Stream (free trial) or Fubo (free trial). Sling (half off first month) also has promotional pricing for new customers.
Celtics vs. Pacers preview
The Celtics’ resilience was on full display in Game 3, where despite trailing by 18 points at one stage, they clawed back to snatch a 114-111 victory. The hero of the night was Jrue Holiday, who despite battling a fever, played over 38 minutes and made a crucial steal in the final seconds to preserve the win. Holiday’s defensive play, stripping Andrew Nembhard of the ball with just 1.7 seconds left, was hailed as one of the biggest in franchise history.
Now, the Celtics are one win away from the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum had one of his best playoff performances with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, highlighting his capabilities as a star in the NBA.
As they prepare for Game 4, the Celtics are aware of the potential pitfalls. Last season, they were on the opposite side of a 3-0 series, nearly allowing the Miami Heat to come back before winning in Game 7. Head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized the importance of staying focused and not underestimating their opponents.
“We know for one second we can’t relax,” Tatum said. “This is the playoffs, and anything can happen.”
On the other side, the Pacers are fighting to keep their season alive. Despite missing their star point guard Tyrese Haliburton in Game 3 due to a hamstring injury, the Pacers showed remarkable tenacity. Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell stepped up, combining for 55 points, 15 assists, and 13 rebounds. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner also delivered strong performances, each contributing 22 points.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle struck a defiant tone in his post-game press conference, urging his team and fans to believe in a comeback.
“We have to look at what’s in front of us,” Carlisle said. “We have the best fans in the NBA here. We have the greatest basketball building on the planet and we have another game in front of them to go after these guys. And believe me when I tell you, we are going after them.”
The Pacers have demonstrated resilience throughout the season, bouncing back from losses and fighting through adversity. They will be hoping for Haliburton’s return to bolster their chances, but regardless of his status, they are determined to extend the series and push it back to Boston for Game 5.
“We have to give everything we have,” Siakam said. “Obviously, to this point, we’ve had an incredible season and nobody wants to see it end. We’re going to fight to the end. For us, it’s just, ‘Let’s get one game.’ We can’t look ahead. Whatever is in front of us doesn’t matter. We have to focus on the next game and give everything we have to win that game.”
The Pacers’ ability to bounce back from adversity will be crucial. They have a strong track record of responding after losses, going 23-12 following defeats in the regular season. This resilience will be tested as they aim to avoid a series sweep and keep their playoff hopes alive.
As the Celtics and Pacers prepare for what could be a decisive Game 4, the stage is set for another intense battle. The Celtics will look to close out the series and move on to the Finals, while the Pacers will fight to extend their season and defy the odds.
Here’s more information on how you can watch the Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics
- What: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers
- When: Monday, May 27, 2024
- Time: 8 p.m. Eastern
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Indiana
- Channel: ESPN
- Best Streaming Options: DirecTV Stream (free trial), FuboTV (free trial), and Sling (half off first month).
- Channel finder if you have cable: You can access the channel by using the channel finders online: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.
Here is some further background on Saturday night’s game, courtesy of the Associated Press.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Coach Rick Carlisle expects the Indiana Pacers to punch back Monday night.
Yes, he realizes no NBA team has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, and, of course, his players understand a Game 4 victory only assures them of one thing — another trip to Boston for another elimination game.
And yet, Carlisle believes his players are ready to continue the fight.
“We’re going to come at these guys harder on Monday,” Carlisle said Saturday after losing their first home playoff game this season. “Our fans need to come out and they need to get louder than they’ve ever been, and we’ve got to extend this series. We’ve got to get back on that plane for Game 5.”
Clearly, that will be easier said than done.
The Pacers have blown winnable chances in the final minute of Games 1 and 3 and hung close in Game 2 — until a left hamstring injury sent All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton to the locker room in the third quarter.
He didn’t return that night and sat out Saturday, against his wishes. Carlisle did not say Sunday whether Haliburton might play in Game 4. Regardless, the Pacers season comes down to this — win or go home.
“There’s no guy in this locker room that’s packed it in,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said. “We’re going to have to get one here and extend the series, then go back to Boston and try to make things difficult. But there’s no guy in this locker room that’s going to quit.”
The Celtics know how this works, too.
They’ve appeared in six of the last eight Eastern Conference finals and they’re now just a win away from advancing to the NBA Finals for the second time during that span. Five wins would give the franchise its first championship since 2008.
But a year ago, Boston found itself facing an even trickier proposition after losing the first two games at home before getting blown out at Miami. The Celtics responded to the 3-0 deficit by winning the next three before enduring a rare Game 7 loss at home.
It’s a lesson that could serve them well Monday night when they’ll try to improve to 6-0 on the road in these playoffs.
“It’s huge,” All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum said after Boston’s sixth straight playoff win. “We’re in a great position right now, one win away from the finals. But we know we can’t relax for one second. A year ago, we were down 0-3 and figured out a way to force it to seven, so we’re not looking past Monday.”
Tatum has been the Celtics catalyst in this series, scoring a playoff career-high 36 points twice in the first three games.
The big lead also gives Boston the potential luxury of resting injured players a bit longer.
Starting center Kristaps Porzingis has not played since April 29 because of a strained right calf. Backup center Luke Kornet sat out Saturday with a sprained left wrist, and coach Joe Mazzulla has no reason to rush either back now.
Plus, if the Celtics pull off their first series sweep since beating Brooklyn 4-0 in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, they could get even more rest depending on the twists and turns in the Dallas-Minnesota series. The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead into Sunday night’s game at Dallas.
First, though, Boston is focused on closing out the Pacers.
“I believe these past few years we’ve had some battles and I feel like our group, we’ve been through it, we understand it, we’ve had some grueling, tough series and this one is no different,” said Celtics center Al Horford, who made seven 3-pointers in Game 3. “This team, it’s a very good team. They’re very dangerous, there’s a reason they’re here, and I know we’re up three, but it could easily be very different.”
The Pacers know it, too, and that’s why they intend to show the basketball world just how much fight they still have left Monday night.
“We’ve got to give everything that we have,” said Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, who won an NBA crown with Toronto in 2018. “Obviously, to this point we’ve had an incredible season and nobody wants to see it end. So we’re going to fight to the end, and I think it’s like let’s get one win and give everything we have to win that game.”
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