Celtics 2-0 lead, Brown's 40 Tops Pacers
In a commanding performance, the Boston Celtics secured a 126-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, now holding a 2-0 series lead.
The pivotal moment of the game came in the third quarter when Pacers' star point guard Tyrese Haliburton exited due to left leg soreness, later revealed to be a recurrence of a left hamstring injury. Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Haliburton's status for upcoming games remains uncertain.
The Celtics staged an impressive comeback after trailing 27-22 late in the first quarter, spearheaded by Jaylen Brown's stellar 40-point performance. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White contributed 23 points each, powering Boston's offense throughout the game.
Boston's dominance extended to the interior, outscoring the Pacers 54-34 in the paint, leveraging the size and athleticism of their wing players to penetrate effectively.
Despite Pascal Siakam's standout performance for the Pacers, contributing 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting, Indiana struggled to find offensive rhythm elsewhere. With no other player scoring more than 16 points, Coach Carlisle opted to rest his starters early in the fourth quarter, acknowledging Siakam's fatigue.
Reflecting on the Pacers' resilience, Carlisle noted their comeback in the previous series against the New York Knicks, where they overcame a 2-0 deficit to win Game 6 and Game 7.
The Celtics now hold a commanding series lead as they head into the next matchup, while the Pacers face uncertainty regarding the availability of their key player, Tyrese Haliburton.
