Pacers 135-132 Celtics (Oct. 30, 2024) Game Recap

INDIANAPOLIS – Pascal Siakam scored the last of his 29 points with a 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left in overtime to give the Indiana Pacers a 135-132 victory over the previously unbeaten Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

With six 3s and 11 rebounds, Siakam reached career highs in a single game. Bennedict Mathurin scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and 12 assists.

The win ended Indiana's three-game losing streak.

Boston fought back from a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime and lead 132-130 on a Derrick White layup with 39.7 seconds left. But Indiana scored the final five points to win.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 37 points. Jaylen Brown added 25 points and had a chance to tie the score, but his 3 in the final seconds was off the mark. White finished with 23 points in the first meeting between these teams since Boston beat Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals last season.

Takeaways

Celtics: Through the first four games, Boston looked like the reigning NBA champions – they won by double digits three times. They weren't dominant on Wednesday, but they didn't go down without a fight either, the true mark of a champion.

Pacers: Indiana's high-scoring, fast-paced offense is back. The result also seemed familiar to me. The Pacers finished the season with a high number of points – although they almost ruined the contest with a series of late turnovers.

Key moment

Siakam scored the final five points for Indiana, tying the score with a mid-range jumper with 36 seconds left before giving the Pacers the lead for good. It was only sealed when Brown's 3 fluttered out of bounds.

Important statistics

Indiana posted season highs in rebounds (57) and 3-pointers made (15).

Next

The Celtics will look to bounce back in Charlotte on Friday, while the Pacers make their only trip this season to New Orleans on Friday.

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