INDIANAPOLIS — Jrue Vacation didn’t really feel properly all day. He even missed the staff’s morning shootaround.
When it mattered most, although, the Celtics guard regarded simply nice.
Vacation transformed a three-point play with 38.9 seconds left to provide Boston its first lead in practically 36 minutes, adopted that with the game-saving steal after which clinched the 114-111 victory at Indiana with two free throws Saturday night time to provide Celtics a commanding 3-0 lead within the Jap Convention finals.
The Celtics overcame an 18-point deficit within the second half and may earn their second NBA Finals journey in three years with one other win Monday at Indiana.
“I’m all proper, had a fever, slept lots. However I really feel OK,” Vacation mentioned. “I simply made a play (on the finish). He’s an important participant, had an important recreation. I simply made a play.”
Vacation completed with 14 factors, 5 within the last 39 seconds, and had 9 rebounds on an evening that, at occasions, he gave the impression to be beneath the climate.
Afterward, although, he gave the impression of himself and felt properly sufficient to stability his youngsters on his lap.
As Vacation struggled to seek out his footing, Boston’s different gamers obtained the job completed.
Jayson Tatum matched his playoff profession excessive with 36 factors and had 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Jaylen Brown added 24 factors, and 37-year-old Al Horford had 23 factors and was 7-of-12 on 3-pointers.
However it was Vacation’s late-game heroics that silenced Indiana’s raucous crowd and saved Boston an ideal 5-0 on the highway on this season’s playoffs.
“I’m glad we obtained him, Jrue’s a hell of a competitor,” Tatum mentioned. “Clearly, he’s gained a championship. For him to come back out right here and put all of it on the road for us and provide you with an enormous play to win the sport, we’ve obtained a hell of a staff.”
The Pacers had been already going through a formidable highway again on this collection — even earlier than they realized All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton wouldn’t play in Sport 3 due to a left hamstring damage. It’s not clear if he’ll be accessible for Sport 4, both.
Nonetheless, the Pacers refused to interrupt.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with a career-high 32 factors earlier than Vacation stole the ball from him with 3.3 seconds remaining. T.J. McConnell completed with 23 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, whereas Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam every had 22 factors.
Turner additionally had 10 rebounds.
Indiana had an opportunity to pressure extra time however Aaron Nesmith’s 3-pointer was off the mark.
In addition to the Pacers performed, scoring 69 factors within the first half, twice taking 18-point leads and nonetheless holding a 107-99 benefit with three minutes to go towards the NBA’s prime staff, it was clear the Pacers missed having Haliburton on the courtroom.
“Brave. Our guys performed an important recreation,” coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “We got here up a bit of brief tonight, however we can be again Monday and we can be punching even more durable.”
Nonetheless, a sellout crowd decked primarily in gold checkered flag shirts that includes dozens of particular person stamps of Indiana’s state define and stuffed with actors right here for the Indianapolis 500 weekend celebration, helped energize the Pacers as that they had by the primary playoff house video games, all wins.
However Vacation’s ending flurry — an enormous layup, the go-ahead free throw, the defensive play of the sport and two free throws to seal it with 1.1 left — quieted the group on a wild night time.
Indiana constructed an 18-point lead halfway by the second quarter and matched that margin once more halfway by the third.
The second time, Boston used a collection of Indiana turnovers to spur a 13-4 spurt that obtained them inside 90-81 after three.
The Celtics then opened the fourth on a 9-3 run that obtained them inside 93-90 on Horford’s 3 with 8:29 to go.
Indiana answered by rebuilding a 107-99 cushion with 3:05 left, solely to observe Boston go on a 13-2 run fueled by Vacation.
“We’ve met each problem,” Tatum mentioned. “We’re in nice place proper now, one win away from the finals. However we are able to’t look previous Monday or something like that and now we have a particular alternative to return to the finals.”
