Celtics Vs Pacers Game 1

Celtics edge Pacers in Game 1 of East finals

Tatum scores 36, Brown hits 3 to force OT

Boston rallies past Indiana to take series opener

The Boston Celtics escaped with a 133-128 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.

Jaylen Brown hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and Jayson Tatum scored 12 of his game-high 36 points in the extra period to lead the Celtics to victory.

The Celtics entered the playoffs expecting to get everyones best shot. They got it from the Pacers, who led by as many as 12 points in the second half and were up by 3 with less than 10 seconds to play in regulation.

But the Celtics showed their championship mettle, rallying to force overtime and then pulling away in the extra period.

Brown finished with 23 points, while Marcus Smart added 20 and Al Horford had 18.

Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with 27 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 24 and Aaron Nesmith had 20.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Thursday night in Boston.