The Celtics, led by the Jays, Tatum and Brown, beat the Pacers 133-128 in the first game of the Conference Finals. The game was decided in overtime, after Indiana lost a three-point lead and possession with ten seconds remaining.
The Pacers, who are playing in their first Conference Finals in ten years, were close to surprising the favorites, but their inexperience took its toll. Pascal Siakam lost the ball when they were ahead with ten seconds left and Jaylen Brown, who had recovered possession, scored a three-pointer from the corner with the Canadian on top to force overtime.
The losses squandered the Indiana team’s options, as they wasted 21 possessions throughout the game. In overtime, with the score at 124-123 and the ball going to the Pacers, Haliburton gave the ball to the Celtics with one minute remaining. Tatum, on the subsequent play, punished three to achieve an irremediable distance.
The 24-year-old point guard took the blame for his team’s defeat: “It’s not his (Carlisle’s) fault. He is one of the players, we have to do a better job. I lost two balls that cost us the game. I understand that you want to protect us, but I take the blame. “We are going to be better,” said the Pacers player.
Beyond the losses, Haliburton and Siakam, with 25 and 24 points respectively, kept the Pacers in the match, since on the other side were the Jays, inspired throughout the match. Tatum scored 36 points, while Brown scored 26 and scored the triple that forced overtime. In addition, they were accompanied by Jrue Holiday, with 28, in his best game of the playoffs.
Wembanyama continues to make history in his first year in the NBA. The French player was chosen in the best defensive quintet of the year after receiving 98 of the 99 possible votes. His presence among the five best defenders in the league is historic, because he is the first rookie to achieve it.
Before the Spurs player, the rookies who came closest to making it into the best defensive quintet of the year were Tim Duncan (1998), David Robinson (1990), Manute Bol (1986), Hakeem Olajuwon (1985) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970). The five finished in the second best defensive quintet in their debut season in the NBA.
In addition to Wemby, the best defensive team is completed by Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Herb Jones (New Orleans Pelicans) and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers).
On the other hand, the second best defensive team of the season is made up of Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls), Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic), Jaden McDaniels (Minnesota Timberwolves), Derrick White (Boston Celtics) and Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics).
