The Boston Celtics got here via within the clutch for the third time in 4 video games, finishing a sweep of the Indiana Pacers with a 105-102 victory and advancing to the NBA Finals.
Listed here are three stars from Recreation 4 of the Jap Convention Finals.
Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum | 26 factors, 13 rebounds
Boston’s All-NBA ahead completed the convention finals sturdy, even after selecting up his fifth foul with 4:30 to go. What did Tatum do after that? He collected three rebounds, stole the ball from Andrew Nembhard and dunked whereas committing zero fouls.
Even Tatum’s much-maligned stepback jumper got here via within the fourth quarter.
Tatum’s exterior shot has wavered all through the playoffs. Even within the Celtics’ sweep, he was solely 11-of-36 from three-point vary and 3-of-11 in Recreation 4.
However he made up for it by doing all the pieces else, averaging 10.3 rebounds (13 in Recreation 4), constantly drawing the Pacers protection, and discovering open teammates.
For a participant and a group that drew criticism for his or her late-game play, the convention finals had been redemption, as Tatum and the Celtics made the appropriate performs time and again in huge moments. Closing the collection with two consecutive eight-assist video games drove that house.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown | 29 factors, three steals
Subsequent 12 months, Jaylen Brown begins enjoying below the biggest contract in NBA historical past. He had an equally huge Jap Convention Finals, scoring 29 factors within the closeout sport in a collection the place he averaged 29.8 factors and received MVP. And similar to in Recreation 1, he hit a game-tying shot within the fourth quarter.
Not solely did Brown hit the shot that tied the sport, he assisted on the Derrick White three-pointer that received the sport. On the possession earlier than that, Brown blocked a Nembhard layup to maintain the sport tied.
Does Brown nonetheless have a problem with turnovers? Maybe. He turned it over 9 instances within the four-game collection. However he additionally had eight steals, and that greater than counters a number of unhealthy passes and blown dribbles.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation | 17 factors, 9 rebounds
Each time the Celtics wanted a giant play, Jrue Vacation was there. He grabbed an offensive rebound with seconds to go to seal the victory. With 4 minutes left, Vacation transformed a three-point play to get Boston inside two factors.
Vacation has been an unbelievable addition to the Celtics, becoming a member of the group simply earlier than the season after a whirlwind week that noticed him get traded from Milwaukee to Portland after which to Boston.
All he did was seamlessly be a part of the NBA’s high group, make the All-Defensive group and sublimate his offensive sport to his teammates. His scoring dropped to 12.4 factors per sport however his effectivity wildly improved, with taking pictures splits of 48/40/94.
He confirmed that with 28 factors in Recreation 1, maintaining the Celtics shut sufficient to steal the opening sport. Vacation put up 17 in Recreation 4 and grabbed 9 boards.
Total, he shot a surprising 27-of-46 within the collection — 58.6 p.c. Boston has to really feel fortunate that the Bucks determined to commerce for Damian Lillard as a result of including Vacation has introduced it again to the Finals.
An honorable point out goes to Indiana’s Nembhard, who stepped in because the chief of the Pacers offense within the closing two video games of the collection.
With Tyrese Haliburton out, he averaged 28 factors and 9.5 assists whereas taking pictures over 50 p.c from the sector and three-point vary. He acquired stuffed by Boston’s protection late, but it surely was an eye-opening efficiency from the second-year guard.
