Netease Sports reported on May 26:
The NBA playoffs continued, and the Boston Celtics reversed their win to reach the match point of the Eastern finals. Indiana in the absence of Halliburton Pacers Up to 18 points ahead, but Tatum After 36 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, he led the team to make a comeback in the second half. Naismith missed three points to equalize. The Celtics narrowly defeated the Pacers 114-111 in Game 3 of the Eastern Finals. The total score of the Celtics expanded to 3-0, and the fourth game of the series between the two teams will continue to be held in Indiana.
Tatum of Celtics got 36 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, Brown 24 points, Hoford 23 points and 5 rebounds, White He had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, and Hollady had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Pacers Nemhad He got 32 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists, and McConnell got 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, Turner He had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Siakam had 22 points and 6 assists.
Harry Burton of the Pacers was absent due to the left hamstring injury, and Shepard entered the starting line-up instead. After the Celtics started the game, they turned the tables on visitors. Tatum scored 6 points in a row, and Hofford hit a 3-pointer. They were 11-4 ahead. Siakam hit back with 3 points, White responded with 3 points, Siakam scored 4 points again, and the Pacers chased back to 15-18. Tatum and Hofford took turns to shoot three points and opened again. After the two teams scored several points, Siakam led the team to chase six points. The Pacers fell behind 29-30 with 1:35 left in the first quarter. Tatum hit a backward jump shot and Turner dunked well. At the end of the first quarter, the Pacers fell behind by 1 point with 31-32.
Turner and Nemhad joined hands for 6 points to start the second quarter, and the Pacers overcame by 37-33. Hofford hit a three-point shot, and Siakam, Nemhad and Turner combined for 7 points. The Pacers continued to expand their advantage. Of Tatum's three points, Naismith retaliated with three points, Nemhad won the singles, and the Pacers led 48-40. After several rounds of tug of war between the two teams, McConnell suddenly hit three goals. He led the team to a small climax of 11-4. At 2:40 seconds before half time, the Pacers led by 64-46 by 18 points. Hollady, Brown and Hoford took turns to shoot three points to help the team pull the gap back to the single digits. Nemhad hit the right wing with three points. At the end of the half, the Pacers led by 69-57 by 12 points.
Nemhad of the Pacers got 21 points, Siakam got 15 points and McConnell got 12 points; Tatum of Celtics got 20 points, Brown got 14 points and Hoford got 12 points.
After the beginning of the third quarter, the two teams came and went, and the score increased alternately. Nemhad and McConnell teamed up for 6 points. The Celtics led 84-66 in the middle of the quarter. Tatum and Brown nearly recovered 5 points, Jackson dunked and hit back, and the Celtics recovered 5 points to narrow the gap to 10 points. Tuoping scored in a singles game. Tatum scored three points, and White made two free throws. The Celtics were 81-88 behind. McDermott's second attack was successful. At the end of the third quarter, the Pacers led by 90-81 by 9 points.
Hollady and White joined hands for 4 points to open the last quarter, and the Celtics were only 5 points behind. Turner scored 3 points, Tatum and Hoford scored another 5 points, and the Green Army fell behind 90-93. After the Pacers paused, McConnell and Nemhad took turns to score again. The gap between the two sides returned to 4 points for White's three points. Then the two teams saw each other for several rounds, Nemhad hit two free throws, and the Pacers led 111-106 with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter. Hofford made a three point shot from the bottom corner, West Asia Kam failed to make a breakthrough, and Hollady made a three point breakthrough. The Celtics led by 112-111 in the fourth quarter with 38.9 seconds left.
Nemhad missed the left baseline jumper and Hoford got the rebound. Tatum missed the breakthrough layup, Nemhad got the rebound, Hollerdy single defense Nemhad directly cut the ball, and Siakam could only choose foul tactics. The referee looked back at the video and confirmed that it was an ordinary foul. Hollady made two free throws. The Celtics led 114-111 with 1.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Naismith missed a three point equaliser after the Pacers paused, and they lost 111-114.
The first team of Celtics: Hollady, White, Brown, Tatum, Hoford
The Pacers' starting lineup: Nemhad, Shepard, Naismith, Siakam, Turner
