In what felt like a playoffs game, the Pacers sensationally eliminated the Celtics from the In-Season Tournament and Boston’s players and coach were left bitterly disappointed.
“Yeah, I wanted to f**king go to Vegas,” Tatum told reporters after the 122-112 loss. “I ain’t wanna go home. I wanted to go to Vegas. So yeah, man. Next year, I guess.”
Many NBA fans were quick to point out that the game really did feel like a Finals game, as it had the familiar feeling of Boston choking away the win.
Omg @damanr 🔥🔥 https://t.co/PVz33U2AJT
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 5, 2023
The C’s turned the ball over a whopping 17 times, while the Pacers only turned the ball over a total of six times the entire game.
“When you turn the ball over, you just let them get out in transition,” Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters after the game. “I thought we lost some of our offensive purpose and didn’t take care of the ball.”
The third quarter was an ugly one for the Celtics, and guard Derrick White knew it and he took some personal responsibility.
“We had a lot of turnovers, which makes them play faster,” White said, per NBC Sports Boston. “Personally, I felt like I was horrible in the second half, and it led to them getting a lot of easy looks. I gotta be better in that aspect.
“I turned it over too many times for sure. I felt like I didn’t manage it the way I should have. I just gotta be better.”
Despite Tatum and Jaylen Brown both putting up 30+ points, it was Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton that stole the show.
The Indiana guard scored 26 points on 45.5 percent shooting from three, to go with ten rebounds and 13 assists in the first triple-double of his career.
Haliburton’s HIM moment came with 1:33 left in the game when he executed an amazing four-point play to put his side in the lead.
GOODNESS, TYRESE HALIBURTON 😱
CLUTCH TRIPLE. AND-ONE
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/f9K9LzQjpJ— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
The Pacers now advance to the Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday.
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