BOSTON — The pesky Indiana Pacers surprisingly waved the white flag with a number of minutes to spare in Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention finals in opposition to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night time.
It’s not like the sport was fully out of attain, both, with Indiana trailing by 14 factors halfway via the quarter. However as a substitute of attempting to chip away on the deficit, the Pacers packed it in and fell, 126-110, at TD Backyard.
Two of Indiana’s starters in Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith didn’t play a single minute within the fourth quarter whereas Pascal Siakam, who scored a team-high 28 factors within the loss, performed simply 2:35 within the remaining body. The Pacers had been additionally with out star guard Tyrese Haliburton after he left within the second half resulting from a leg damage.
The Pacers pulling their starters with a comeback bid nonetheless on the desk was perplexing to Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
Story continues beneath commercial
“It was a little bit shocking,” Brown stated. “I don’t know what the reasoning behind that was, however we centered on successful the sport. I believe that’s what our focus was. However yeah, that positively was a little bit bizarre.”
The Pacers confirmed already within the sequence they might dig out of a gap as they overcame a 13-point deficit within the third quarter in Recreation 1. However Siakam didn’t appear too bothered by Indiana’s end-of-bench gamers like Jalen Smith, Doug McDermott and Jarace Walker being featured closely within the fourth quarter.
“Our depth has been every part for us and that’s the way in which we play,” Siakam stated. “Whoever is on the market on the ground has acquired to step up and we acquired to be collectively and attempt to do our greatest.”
Even with the Pacers going to their reserves, the Celtics didn’t let up. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla left Boston’s regulars on the court docket till 1:29 remaining within the recreation and the Celtics up 15.
Story continues beneath commercial
“Simply to proceed to lock in,” Jrue Vacation stated of the scenario. “We all know that these guys which might be coming off the bench, if it’s second or third string, that is their likelihood to make something occur. And we all know the primary and second models of Indy, they’re going to play laborious, however these guys are going to play even more durable. We all know on the large stage something can occur and guys could make performs. Actually simply wished to set the tone towards the tip of the sport and management the sport.”
