Tatum leads Celtics fightback to push Pacers near elimination

The Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum with 36 points, overcame an 18-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 114-111 on Saturday, taking a 3-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

But the change came as the Celtics found a way to slow down Indiana's high-octane offense in the second half to snatch victory in Indianapolis, where they will try to close out the series on Monday.

“The closing games are the hardest,” Tatum said, warning that the Celtics can't afford to relax despite the fact that no NBA team has recovered from 0-3 to win a playoff series.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle certainly wasn't ready to wave the white flag.

“We're not going to get discouraged, we'll be back here Monday night trying to extend the series and we're going to attack them even harder,” promised Carlisle, who said the Pacers played “a gutsy game.”

Indiana, which was undefeated in six home games during the playoffs, came out determined to avoid the 0-3 hole despite the absence of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who aggravated left hamstring strain that l troubled this season in the second game. .

Andrew Nembhard, taking over at point guard, scored 32 points and dished out nine assists and Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner scored 22 each for the Pacers, who stretched their lead to 18 in the second quarter and again at the third.

But a 3-point play by Jrue Holiday, who fouled a driving layup and made the free throw, put the Celtics up 112-111 with 38.9 seconds left.

It was their first lead since the opening moments of the second quarter and they held it, with Holiday getting a game-clinching steal from Nembhard and making two free throws to seal it.

“I think that's where I saw the opportunity,” said Holiday, whose start was doubtful due to illness until shortly before the game. “I think Siakam was on his heels so I just attacked him and got the and-one.”

Despite Haliburton's absence, the Pacers went on offense and erased an early nine-point deficit, exploding in the second quarter to build their first 18-point lead of the contest.

Another level

Nembhard scored 17 points in the second quarter and the Pacers connected on 15 of their 22 shot attempts to overtake the Celtics.

With 21 points at halftime, Nembhard had already surpassed his career playoff high.

He hit a long 3-pointer with less than five seconds left in the first half to give the Pacers a 69-57 lead at the break.

Indiana still led by 18 midway through the third, but Boston came out on top defensively and brought them back.

It remained to be seen whether Haliburton will be available for Game 4 on Monday.

“It was determined that tonight was not an option,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said before the game, saying Haliburton would be re-evaluated before Game 4.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Haliburton's absence left Boston struggling to adjust early on.

“It took us a little while to figure out how we were going to measure up to them in order to slow them down,” he said. “I felt like it was our defense and I thought we took it to another level in the second half.”