A fantastic game unfolded in Indianapolis, where the Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics by 133-131.
Bad news preceded this NBA game for Boston. The visiting team had to play without their star player, Jayson Tatum, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury.
The first quarter showcased a closely contested battle. Indiana initially took the lead, but Boston, led by Jaylen Brown, managed to come back and ended the first quarter with a one-point lead. In the second quarter, the visitors performed significantly better, extending their lead. However, a crucial moment occurred when Tyrese Haliburton got injured three minutes before halftime and had to leave the game. Boston then took a double-digit lead, but thanks to Bennedict Mathurin’s points, the deficit was reduced to nine points by the end of the first half.
The third quarter presented a completely different picture. Indiana came out much more aggressively after the break, reflected immediately in the score. They scored 44 points in this period, entering the decisive 12 minutes with a two-point lead.
The game remained tied on both sides until the last minute, and with TJ McConnell’s points 35 seconds before the end, Indiana leveled the score. After a series of misses, Bennedict Mathurin drew three free throws for his team with three seconds left. He made the first two accurately. After the third, Boston called a timeout but failed to equalize.
The top scorer for the winning team was Mathurin with 26 points, with Aaron Nesmith adding 17. On the other side, Brown contributed 40 points.
NBA, other results:
Washington Wizads vs Oklahoma City Thunder 128:136
Charlotte Hornets vs Chicago Bulls 112:119
Miami Heat vs Houston Rockets 120:113
Milwaukee Bucks vs Utah Jazz 116:132
Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoenix Suns 138:111