‘We gave it away’: Pacers players react after Game 1 loss vs. Celtics
"We should've won the game."
Pacers players sound off after a difficult loss: On multiple occasions in the final moments of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the upstart visitors from Indiana appeared to have the game won.
Yet, as has been the case before in the history of Boston basketball, the Celtics found a miraculous game-saving play (several, actually). In the aftermath of a 133-128 overtime defeat, Pacers players were left to consider what might have been.
“We gave it away,” Pacers forward and former Celtic Aaron Nesmith admitted, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier. “We should’ve won the game.”
Even after Jaylen Brown’s improbable game-tying 3-pointer, Indiana still had a chance to win in regulation. But with Jayson Tatum plastered to him, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton couldn’t get the shot he wanted. In the end, his effort fell far wide of the mark and the game went to overtime.
“I felt like there was a better shot to get that I didn’t get,” Haliburton told reporters.
“That’s replayed in my head 100 times and it will replay after I get out of here,” he added. “But I can’t dwell on it. I felt like that was probably the look for me to shoot. I wish I did, but I didn’t.”
“We showed our age a little bit tonight,” said Pacers center Myles Turner. “Being a youthful team and being in this high-stakes of a game, those uncharacteristic mistakes just made their way out.”
Indiana finished the night with 21 turnovers.
Still, Haliburton was encouraged by the team’s performance with an eye on the rest of the series.
“We know we can play with these guys,” he said. “We know we belong.”
Trivia: The Pacers last won the Eastern Conference in 2000. That season, Indiana great Reggie Miller led the team in total points, but was second in points per game. What player, who ranked second in total points behind Miller, had a slightly higher point per game total?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He was a member of the University of Michigan’s famous “Fab Five.”
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics managed to pull off a dramatic, 133-128, Game 1 win over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday. Game 2 is set for Thursday at TD Garden at 8 p.m.
Also from Tuesday: PWHL Boston lost Game 2 of the Walter Cup Finals to Minnesota, 3-0. The best-of-five series is now tied 1-1, with action heading to Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center on Friday at 7 p.m.
And the Red Sox got a 5-2 win over the Rays. The two teams will conclude the three-game series tonight at 6:50 p.m. as Boston goes for the sweep.
More from Boston.com:
- Jaylen Brown’s heroics vault Celtics over Pacers in chaotic Game 1: 10 takeaways
- Jaques scores twice and Hensley posts a shutout as Minnesota tops Boston 3-0 to even PWHL finals
- Jarren Duran homers and steals home as Red Sox beat Rays 5-2
- The Celtics finally won a close one in the playoffs, and what a victory it was
- Inside Jaylen Brown’s stunning three that gave the Celtics the chance to clinch Game 1
- Overtime heroics aside, Jayson Tatum thinks Celtics’ Game 1 win didn’t ‘prove anything’
- Jrue Holiday picked a great time for his best game as a Celtic in Game 1 vs. Pacers
- Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis could reportedly return by Game 4 vs. Pacers
- Drake Maye meets Jayson Tatum, sits courtside at Celtics Game 1 vs. Pacers
The Celtics were down and out before Jaylen Brown’s save: Here’s a glimpse at the statistical swings in win probability.
Regrets? Not everyone kept the faith during Tuesday’s Game 1. WCVB’s Mary Saladna captured a humorous image of a group of fans who left TD Garden early and ended up watching the late-game drama from a bar window outside.
On this day: In 1988, the Celtics did just enough to overcome Dominique Wilkins’s 47-point night in a 118-116 Game 7 win over the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
On the flip side, the Bruins couldn’t stop Wayne Gretzky (four assists) and the Oilers in a 6-3 defeat in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Daily highlight: Perfect execution from the Red Sox (both Rafael Devers and, of course, Jarren Duran), resulting in the rare stealing of home.
Trivia answer: Jalen Rose
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