Boston Celtics 133 Indiana Pacers 128

Pacers vs Celtics: Tatum's heroics lead Boston to Game 1 win

Boston Celtics 133, Indiana Pacers 128

Jayson Tatum explodes for 36 points, Jaylen Brown's clutch three sends game to overtime

Jayson Tatum erupted for 36 points, including a crucial three-pointer in overtime, as the Boston Celtics edged the Indiana Pacers 133-128 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night. The Celtics took control of the game in the extra period, outscoring the Pacers 15-8 to claim the victory.

Jaylen Brown also played a key role for Boston, scoring 23 points and hitting a clutch three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 24 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 23 and Myles Turner chipped in with 22.

The Celtics, the No. 1 seed in the East, improved to 10-3 in the playoffs, while the No. 6 seed Pacers dropped to 6-8. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night in Boston.

In a highly contested game, the Celtics led by just three points with less than a minute remaining. Brown's clutch shot tied the game at 125-125, sending the game to overtime. In the extra period, Tatum took over, scoring six points and assisting on another to help Boston pull away.

The Pacers, who had a chance to win the game in regulation, missed several key shots in the final seconds. Haliburton had a potential game-winning three-pointer rim out, and Turner missed a putback attempt at the buzzer.

The Celtics' victory was their third straight in the series, and they now have a 2-0 lead. The Pacers will need to regroup and find a way to win Game 2 at home if they want to stay alive in the series.

The Celtics' victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. They were able to overcome a slow start and a strong effort from the Pacers to pull out a hard-fought win.