Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics (Game 3)

The preview of Game 3 in the Pacers the Pacers’ best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series against Boston.

By Indiana Pacers

May 24, 2024 11:20 PM

Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Pacers are in a familiar spot as they prepare for game 3 in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana lost two games in Boston to begin the best-of-seven game and is now at 0-2, the same way they were during their Eastern Conference Semifinals against New York.

The Blue & Gold were able to overcome the disadvantage in the final round, winning games 3 and 4, both at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and eventually taking the series in seven games.

It’s not a simple task to go back for another round However, should the Pacers will climb back into the series, they will begin on the Saturday.

The Pacers are the toughest team to beat on the road during the last 2 months more that the Pacers. Indiana is an unbeaten 6-1 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the playoffs — the only team in the playoffs that has not lost an at-home game. Since the start of the regular season in the regular season, they Pacers are undefeated in 11 consecutive home games, and have been beaten in Indiana since the 18th of March.

The Celtics however, are at a perfect 4-0 on the road during the playoffs. They won 2 road matches at Miami at the beginning of round one as well as Cleveland for the round two. Something has to go wrong on Saturday.

The most important question to be answered Saturday’s game is the health of Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton went off with 3:44 left during the 3rd quarter in the game 2 on Thursday. He did not return to the field after being diagnosed with the left hamstring was injured. Pacers director of football Rick Carlisle said that Haliburton was scheduled to be evaluated on the following day.

“We hope that this is a very short-term aggravation,” Carlisle stated “But again, we’ll know more tomorrow and then Saturday obviously, the next game is coming quickly.”

If they didn’t have Haliburton in the game 3 is a huge loss for Indiana. The 24-year-old averages 18.7 points as well as 8.2 assists per game during the playoffs, and is the primary engine in one of the NBA’s fastest offenses.

If Haliburton was not there (or with a modified version of his) The Pacers will be relying more on Pascal Siakam, their primary option. Siakam, a two-time All-Star is just coming off an impressive game 2 which he scored 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting. He also at one point, he scored twenty of the 24 points scored by Indiana at the middle of the first half and beginning of the second period.

While Haliburton is the Indiana’s most popular player but the Pacers have two skilled point guards that have enjoyed strong postseasons. A second year guard Andrew Nembhard has been starting at shooting guard but he is able to move up to point. He’s averaging 13.1 points and five assists in the playoffs. He is scoring 55.9 percentage from field, and 46.8 percent from the 3-point line. The veteran backup T.J. McConnell has been an ignition source off the bench, scoring 10.8 points as well as 5.1 assists, while scoring 48 per cent from field.

Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner

Celtics: G – Jrue Holiday, G – Derrick White, F – Jaylen Brown, F – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford

Pacers Tyrese Haliburton, uncertain (sore left hamstring), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear)

Celtics: Luke Kornet – uncertain (left wrist strain), Kristaps Porzingis – out (right soleus strain)

22 May 2024: Jaylen Brown reached his highest point total in the playoffs with 40 points, as the Celtics made a couple of key performances to take an 86-126 win during Game 2, which took place at TD Garden.

The Celtics advanced towards the beginning of the second quarter. During this time, they scored 17 straight points. They then extended the margin up to double figures in an 8-5 run during the 3rd quarter, after Indiana had drew just two points.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with an all-time high of 28 points, while being 13-for-17 in the field (2-for-2 from the 3-point line). Andrew Nembhard finished with 16 points and five assists in the defeat for Indiana and Obi Toppin scored 11 points from the bench.

Derrick White added 23 points with four rebounds and six assists in Boston, NBA All-Star forward Jayson Tatum had the league’s highest score of 23 points with six boards as well as five assist.

• The Pacers are a perfect 0-8 record when they’re 0-2 behind in a best-of-seven series but the win occurred in the final game with the Knicks.
• The game on Saturday will be an “gold out,” with every fan in attendance getting the gold T-shirt sporting the Pacers logo against an unchecked flag background.
• The seventh playoff game of the Pacers and the Celtics. All previous games were within the initial round. Indiana was victorious in 2005 and 2004 while Boston also won the other 4 series of 1991 and 1992, as well as 2003 and 2019.
• The Pacers and Celtics have played in the playoffs six times, however all of their previous games were within the initial round. Indiana was victorious in 2005 and 2004 while Boston also won the four other series in 1991 and 1992, as well as 2003 and in 2019.
• Indiana has made nine appearances at Indiana’s ninth appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the majority of those appearances occurring in the past 30 years. Four teams are more appearances at the conference finals in this time period including The Spurs with 11, and their counterparts the Lakers, Heat, and Celtics with 10 each.

TV: ABC – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)

It is expected that the Eastern Conference Finals will shift to Indianapolis as the Pacers play the Celtics for Game 3 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 25 at 8:15 PM ET. Find Tickets >>