Celtics 105 - 102 Pacers summary: stats, scores and highlights | Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

Tatum ended the night with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists in another memorable close out game performance. It wasn't as easy as the 4-0 sweep would suggest but the Celtics now have the luxury of sitting back and waiting for the Western Conference Finals to wrap up. Will the Mavs close out the series in 4 games on Tuesday night, or will it be the Timberwolves surviving in Dallas? 

The Pacers would stretch the lead to 9 point in the 4th quarter, which was the largest lead either team had all night, but Jaylen Brown came through when his team needed him. He ended the night with 29 points on 50% shooting from the field and from three point range. 

Despite Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined for Game 4, the Pacers hung in and fought until the final round. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell did almost everything right to pull off the win, but in the end it was too much Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 

In these tight games, it so often comes down to the minor details, and Boston made winning plays like this steal and score from Derrick White all night and all series. This series could have been a lot different when you take into consideration the OT Game 1, the three point win in Game 3 and the three point win in the close out game on Monday night. 

Jrue Holiday was brought to Boston to get the Celtics back in position to win another title. So far he has delivered the goods. Like always, he did it on both ends of the floor, locking down on the defensive side of the ball while posting 17, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. 

After Boston got out to an early lead, the Pacers battled back and kept it close the rest of the way, but turnovers killed Indiana, especially late in the game. The Celtics don't have any trouble scoring, but if you give them easy, open buckets it becomes almost impossible to beat them. 

Jayson Tatum set the tone early with a handful of buckets out of the gate. He has started to look like the Jayson Tatum we have seen throughout the entire regular season as the Celtics go deeper into their playoff run. Tatum has kicked it into another gear and is playing some of his best ball at the right time. 

The Boston Celtics are heading back to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years after a four game sweep over the Indiana Pacers. Jaylen Brown was named Eastern Conference MVP after his 29 point performance in the 105-102 close out win. 

It was another tough game that the Celtics were made to grind out against the shorthanded Pacers. For the third time in four games, the Pacers had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics experience showed and guided them to the win. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!! 

The Celtics are heading back to the NBA Finals!!!

Brown kicks it out to White who pulls the trigger and hits the corner three!

Timeout Pacers wit 1:09 to go in the 4th quarter. 

Brown goes up and under Toppin and gets the floater to fall. 

Tatum explodes to the rack and throws it down with two hands out of the timeout. 

Tough pass from Toppin on the baseline and he found Siakam in the paint for the floater. 

Timeout Celtics with 3:32 to go in the 4th. 

Holiday bodies his way to the bucket and gets the lay up to go AND 1! FT is good after the foul on Toppin. 

Nembhard with the fader from the elbow and he sinks the pull up mid range jumper. 

Tatum steps back and drills the three ball over Turner fro the wing. 

Brown fouled by Turner and he hits both FTs. 

Neismith pulls up in the paint and gets the roll on the fader. 

Neismith into the paint and gets the floater to go over Horford. 

Tatum zips a pass down low for Holiday who was wide open for a lay up. 

Timeout Pacers with 6:52 to go. 

It will remain a common foul, much to the dismay of the Pacers fans in Indy. 

McConnell just got crushed in the face as he pulled in the rebound as Brown tried to knock it out of his hands, and he heads to the bench as the refs review the play. 

Brown snaps the net with a three ball from the corner!

Nembhard pushing the pace on the break, and he goes right at the rack getting the lay up to go AND 1! FT is good. 

Siakam on the offensive board and put back down low 

 Brown's buzzer beater was taken off the board after refs determined it was after the clock it 0.0 but then he comes out of the timeout and hits another three from the top of the key. 

McConnell on the fader from the baseline and he hits it over Horford. That's 15 for McConnell and the Celtics need a timeout with 10:13 to go in the 4th. 

McConnell goes glass after the drive down the right side. 

Pass inside for Tatum who turns and slams it home underneath. 

McConnell to the FT line and he hits the jumper from the mid range. 

Brown goes behind his back and launches a three with the shot clock winding down. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER HERE FROM INDY. 

The Pacers are clinging to life, and have 12 minutes to try and force a Game 5. 

McConnell at the line after the foul on Pritchard and he hits one of two FTs. 

Brown with a quick trigger from the wing and he drops is off the dish from Tatum. 

Horford got a piece of Toppin's lay up but got there after it hit the backboard and is called for a goaltend. 

Brown muscles his way to the rack and lays it up with the left. 

McConnell draws a double team and he dumps it off for Siakam for the slam. 

Toppin slashes to the rack and throws down a two handed jam!

Hauser with a rebound and he looks up court for Holiday for the open lay up in transition. 

Timeout Pacers with 3:10 to go in the 3rd quarter. 

Hauser to the line after the foul on Turner and he hits both FTs. 

Toppin drops a step back three ball from the top of the key!

Neismith to the line after the foul on White and he hits both FTs. 

Tatum found Brown down low for the wide open slam. 

Jackson gets the dump down from Neismith and he throws it down from underneath. 

Horford got the offensive rebound, and goes to the line after the foul on Toppin. Both FTs are good. 

White picks off Turner who was trying to corral the offensive board, and he takes it for the slam. 

Neismith to the line after the foul on Holiday and he his one of two FTs. 

Kick out from White to Tatum who drills the three ball from the wing. 

Neismith pulls up and hits the elbow jumper! Great start for the Pacers out of the break. 

Timeout Celtics with under 9:00 to go in the 3rd quarter. 

Nembhard jacks a three ball and that goes! He's got 19 already. 

White fades away from just outside the paint and hits it over Sheppard. 

Brown bullies his way to the bucket and lays it up over Nembhard. 

Turner with back to back three balls, and watch out. This crowd is starting to get into this game as the Pacers have their largest lead. 

Turner with a high arching three ball and if he sees those start to go down that could be trouble for BOS. 

WE ARE BACK IN INDY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!

Andrew Nembhard came to life in the second quarter, scoring 12 points and goes into the break with 16. 

Tatum doesn't just do it on the offensive end, he is also putting in his work on the defensive end. He got the steal here, and hit 10 who's got 10 at the quarter. 

TJ McConnell came off the bench and changed the game for the Pacers early on. He had 6 points in 2 minutes, and goes into the break with 8. 

Tatum knows the Pacers aren't a good team on the defensive end, and he has exploited the lack of lock down D. 

Pascal Siakam has been carrying this team, especially in this series. He got going early hitting two early buckets. 

Tatum has been fantastic all series, and tonight has been no different. He's got 16, 5 and 4 assists heading into the break. 

WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM INDY!

Other than the first few minutes, this game has been neck and neck throughout. 

Nembhard with the floater down the paint with the clock running down!

Holiday crosses over to get back a defender at the elbow and lays it up and in. 

Neismith to the line after the foul on Holiday and he hits both FTs. 

Nemhard spins to the rack and lays it up and in over Brown. 

Brown to the line and he hits one of two FTs after the foul on Sheppard. 

Brown in the corner and he hits the spot up three from the left side! 

Timeout Pacers with 2:37 to go in the first half. 

Tatum flying to the rim and soars to the bucket for the jam. 

Siakam to the line after the foul on Holiday and he hits both FTs. 

Tatum with the drive from the corner and he lays it up and in. 

Sheppard puts the Pacers back in the lead with a three ball from the corner off the feed from Nembhard. 

Tatum with the steal, and he finds Brown on the break for the wide open slam. 

Jackson down the lane and he hits the offbalanced floater falling to his left. 

Brown uses the hesitation move in transition and blows by his defender for a lay up. 

Timeout Pacers with 6:12 to go in the 2nd quarter. 

White found a lane and he finger rolls it at the rim. 

Turner to the line after the foul on Tatum and he hits both FTs. 

Tatum backing down Sheppard int the paint and he gets the jump hook and the foul!  FT is good. 

Siakam going back to the iron and Nembhard hit him for the lay up down low. 

Tatum stretches to the bucket out of the up and under and finger rolls it with the left hand. 

Siakam running the break and he goes right at the rim, getting the bucket and the foul on Horford, but he misses the FT. 

Nembhard into the lane and gets the floater to go. 

White out of the timeout and he hits the jumper from the FT line over Siakam. 

Nembard gets the ball off the handoff at the top of the key and he strings the three ball!

Timeout Celtics with under 10 to go in the second quarter. 

Quick trigger three ball from Pritchard and he drills it from the wing!

Nembhard was open for three and Siakam hit him in the corner!

Brown to the line after the foul on McDermott but he misses both FTs. 

Siakam to the line after the foul on Brown, and he his one of two FTs. 

Holiday on the drive and dish and he finds Horford in the corner for three. 

Siakam pull up and drills the long two from the wing. 

WE ARE AT THE END OF THE 1ST QUARTER!

Holiday leads the Celtics with 8 points, while Tatum has 7. McConnell has 8 off the bench for the Pacers. 

McConnell down the lane with time running out in the quarter, and he flips it up and in on the buzzer beating finger roll!

Pritchard goes up and under Jackson, and got kicked with a trailing leg as Jackson went flying. He had to get some blood cleaned off his lip, and came back to hit both FTs. 

Toppin streaks to the iron and Nembhard found him with a tough pass for the lay up down low. 

Tatum puts it on the deck, and spins through the lane for the finger roll. 

McDermott kicks it out and finds Toppin open for three on the wing. 

Tatum gets into the paint and lobs it up for Horford for the lay up. 

McDermott jacks a three ball off the dish from McConnell and he strings it. 

TImeout Celtics with 3:02 to go in the first quarter. 

Kick out from Brown to Hauser in the corner for three!

McConnell down the lane and he's got 6 points in two minutes off the bench. 

Holliday with a short two footed floater in the lane. 

McConnell drives back into the paint and gets the lay up to fall over Tillman. 

Tatum going to the rack and he switched hands in mid air for the lay up. 

Neismith drills the three ball from the wing and this game is off to a feverish pace. Back and forth we go in Indy. 

White beats the defense down the floor and lays it up and in off the made IND bucket. 

McConnell off the bench and hits the fader in the paint. 

Timeout Pacers with 7:02 to go in the 1st quarter. 

Nembhard gets the step back pull up to fall from the mid range, and so far that's where the Pacers offense is finding success. 

Holiday hits another pull up and the lead is up to eight already. 

White jacks the three ball from the corner and he's on the board for the first time. 

Siakam with another mid range jumper and he's got a quick four points. 

Holiday off the dribble and he strokes it from the top of the key. 

Brown drives down the lane and lays it up and in for his first bucket of the night. 

Nembhard pulls up from the mid range and gets the FT line jumper to fall. 

Tatum steps back, and drills the three ball. He had 36 last game, and he's off on the right foot tonight. 

Siakam off to a good start, hitting his first mid range jumper off the turn around from outside the paint. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM INDIANA!!!

Pacers starters

Ben Sheppard is going to try to fill the void left by Haliburton's absence. He and the rest of the starting five will have to play as good if not better than they did in Game 3 on Saturday. He is joined by Nembhard, Neismith Turner and Siakam. 

C's starters

Al Horford has stepped into the starting five and flourished in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. He will be joined by Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White in this close out game from Indiana. 

NBA

Bill Walton dies at 71: What was the cause of death of the NBA Hall of Famer?

RIP Bill Walton

The Boston Celtics will be playing with heavy hearts tonight in Indiana after the recent passing of the legendary Bill Walton. Walton was a two time NBA champion, once with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and once with Boston in 1986. He won the Finals MVP in 77 and was named the league’s most valuable player in the following season. He finished up his career in Boston before getting into broadcasting. He was a big man, a big personality and a big star, especially in Boston. Our William Allen has more. 

Still no Porzingis

It was the offseason signing that was going to take this team from a contender to the favorite to win the NBA title. Kristaps Porzingis came to Boston in the summer time, and for the entire regular season things were going exactly according to plan. The Celtics were rolling over the competition, they got the one seed in the East and the Latvian was playing some of the best basketball of his life. Then disaster struck. In Game 4 against Miami, Kristaps limped off the court and went right to the locker room. He hasn’t returned to the court since. A calf straight kept him out of Game 5 against Miami and all five games against the Cavs, the first three games of this series, and will be out for Game 4 in Indiana. 

Haliburton out tonight

Tyrese Haliburton was a late scratch in the Pacers Game 4 loss on Saturday night. He missed the game with a sore hamstring and came into tonight’s elimination game listed as questionable. Haliburton is the orchestrator of the offense and the one responsible for pushing the pace for this high paced offense. Halibruton is averaging 18.7 points and 8.2 assists this postseason, He had a terrific Game 1 to start the series, scoring 25 points and dishing 10 assists in the overtime loss, but played just 28 minutes and scored 10 points while dishing 8 assists in Game 2. Tonight he will have to watch from the sidelines and hope that his teammates can force a fifth game. 

Tatum being Tatum

One thing is clear in this series. No one on the Pacers is capable of stopping Jayson Tatum. It’s clear that Indiana didn’t get this deep into the playoffs because of their defense and that has been more than evident in this series. Tatum coasted through the first two rounds, and now it seems that he is gearing up for the big games as the Celtics go deeper into the playoffs. Tatum is averaging 31.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists and has had two games of 36 points in the three games this series. This was the goal from the start of the season. Team success instead of individual stats and accolades, but Tatum is kicking it into the next gear as the Finals approach, and at the moment, no one looks like they can stop him. 

Postmen need to deliver

The Pacers need something to change. What ever they have done for the first three games of the series is obviously not working. It’s tough when you are going up against a team that’s is better than you at every position, but for Indiana to prolong the series, they are going to need their big guys to step up. Miles Turner and Pascal Siakam were instrumental in getting by the New York Knicks, but they haven’t been up to the same level in this series. Turner is averaging 17.7 points an 8 rebounds a game while Siakam is getting 24.7 points and 6.7 rebounds this series. Siakam is having the better series, but he and Turner are going to have to be nearly perfect tonight if they are going to stay alive for another game. 

Game 3 recap

Despite losing Tyrese Haliburton to a sore hamstring last game the Pacers gave the Celtics the biggest fight of the series. Andrew Nembhard took over and put the team on his back with 32 points and 9 assists ini the absence of Indiana’s starting point guard, and the Pacers led by 9 heading into the fourth quarter, but Jayson Tatum turned it on in the final quarter, and the defense locked down holding Indiana to just 21 points to complete the 4th quarter comeback. The Pacers had a chance to take the lead in the last seconds of the game but Jrue Holiday came up with a game winning steal and sent the C’s into tonight up 3-0. Tatum led the C’s with 36 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists as Jaylen Brown chipped in 24 and Al Horford had another 23. Boston now has a chance to breeze by the Conference Finals, which could give them a few extra days to get prepared for either the Mavs or the Timberwolves. 

We are live from Indy

Hello everyone and welcome to Indiana where the Pacers have their backs against the wall after failing to win their first game of the series at home on Saturday night. They kept it close but weren’t able to hang on to their fourth quarter lead and that sets up the Celtics with a potential knockout game tonight. Boston had barley broken a sweat in the playoffs this season, after cruising through both of their first two series in five games. It might not even take that many games if they can take care of business tonight from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Will we have our first finalist by the end of the night, or will this series get stretched for another game? 

Celtics vs. Pacers Game 4

We have an elimination game in Indiana tonight in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals The top seed in the East are a game away from the Finals while the home team is just looking to survive another day. It’s the Pacers hosting the Celtics in Game 4 from GainBridge Fieldhouse and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of this must win game for the Pacers from the Hoosier state.