Celtics edge Pacers in Game 1 thriller

Brown's late 3 forces OT, Celtics win 117-112

Boston Celtics take 1-0 lead in series

Jaylen Brown nailed a 3-pointer with 61 seconds remaining to force overtime as the Boston Celtics rallied for a 117-112 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night.

The Pacers led by five with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but Brown's 3 cut the lead to two and Marcus Smart tied the game with a layup with 42.5 seconds left.

In overtime, the Celtics took control and outscored the Pacers 15-5. Brown finished with a team-high 23 points, while Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Pacers were led by Tyrese Haliburton, who had 22 points and 11 assists. Domantas Sabonis added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

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

The Celtics are now 8-1 in the playoffs this season, while the Pacers are 3-4.

Conclusion

The Celtics showed their resilience in Game 1, rallying from a five-point deficit in the final two minutes to force overtime and eventually win the game. Brown was the hero for Boston, hitting a clutch 3-pointer to force OT and scoring five points in the extra period.

The Pacers will need to make some adjustments if they want to tie the series in Game 2. They will need to find a way to slow down Brown and Tatum, and they will need to be more efficient on offense. The Pacers shot just 42.5% from the field in Game 1, and they turned the ball over 14 times.