Celtics hold off Pacers in Game 3 to take commanding 3-0 series lead
J. MichaelINDIANAPOLIS — Victor Oladipo couldn't make it for Game 3 because of issues with travel, but he better get here quickly or else. The Indiana Pacers' season could be over this weekend.
Their top-rated scoring defense didn't appear for the first 12 minutes Friday.
The Pacers almost overcame a 41-point first quarter when the Boston Celtics knocked down eight 3s, but Indiana didn't have enough to win Game 3, falling 104-96 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers trail the best-of-seven series 3-0. NBA and ABA teams are 0-146 all-time in that scenario.
Tyreke Evans (19 points) led a first-half comeback for the Pacers, who lost the first two games at TD Garden unable to break 100 points. But Evans played just 10 minutes and scored four points in the final two quarters after his 15-point first half.
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Kyrie Irving (19 points, 10 assists) couldn't reproduce his series-high 37 points that led Boston to a comeback win in Game 2. He didn't need to with Al Horford (15 points, eight rebounds, four assists) hitting clutch jumpers in the fourth with the Pacers' defense helping to stop the point guard in the paint.
Jaylen Brown (game-high 23 points, six rebounds) and Jayson Tatum (18 points, seven rebounds) did most of the damage while Horford continued to be the unsung piece in the high post who makes the Celtics flow on both ends.
The Pacers had answers in the form of Evans, who played 21 minutes, Myles Turner (13 points, seven rebounds), Domantas Sabonis (12 points, seven rebounds, six assists), Thaddeus Young (11 points, nine rebounds, three steals) and Wesley Matthews (11 points) to help Bojan Bogdanovic (15 points).
Game 4 is here Sunday.
The Pacers had a 33-point second quarter to make themselves viable again with just one field goal from Bogdanovic, their leading scorer. Young made all four of his shots and Evans went 4-for-5. But they managed just 12 points in the third quarter, continuing their pattern of having one horrendous offensive quarter in each game.
Coach Nate McMillan went away from Doug McDermott who lasted just five minutes, had two fouls and didn't score.
The Pacers only had 11 turnovers, but their lack of shooting caught up to them in the end. They went 34-for-81 (42%) overall.
They shot 3-for-15 on 3s in the second half with Bogdanovic going 2-for-8 from long range.
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