The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals! They punched their ticket to the championship series after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in a tightly contested Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals (105-102).
The win capped off a dominant series sweep for the Celtics, showcasing their resilience and championship mettle. The Pacers, however, shouldn’t leave empty-handed. They pushed the Celtics to the limit, especially in a nail-biting fourth quarter of Game 4.
It was a close game, with both teams trading baskets and neither side able to establish a significant lead. The largest lead for either team was 9 points. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, while Jayson Tatum chipped in with 26 points. Jalen Brown wins the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. As for the Pacers, Andrew Nembhard had a monstrous double-double with 24 points and 10 assists with 6 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pacers missed the services of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined by a left hamstring injury.
The final minutes of the game were a heart-stopping display of clutch plays. With the score tied and seconds remaining, Jalen Brown found Derek White for a 23-foot three-point jumper that sealed the win for Boston. The Pacers had a chance to respond, but their final shot attempt fell short.
With the series win, the Celtics return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2020, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. This is a much younger team compared to their previous championship run, but they’ve shown a maturity and composure beyond their years.
They’ll now await their opponent, who will be determined in the ongoing Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
