The expectation for much of the 2023-24 NBA season has been that the Celtics would be playing basketball deep into the postseason. If Boston didn’t reach this stage, it would be a disappointment for a team that won 64 games in the regular season.
The same cannot be said of the Pacers. Indiana entered the NBA Playoffs as the No. 6 seed, just managing to avoid the play-in tournament. The team faced a treacherous path to this point, one that went through the No. 3 Bucks, then the No. 2 Knicks.
Yet here are the underdog Pacers, the last team standing between the heavily favored Celtics and the NBA Finals.
STREAM: Watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV
The Pacers and Celtics had a narrow season series, with Boston ultimately claiming a 3-2 advantage. The matchup figures to be high-scoring, with both teams having reached at least 100 in every meeting so far this season. Boston had the largest margin of victory between the two teams, with a 155-104 victory on Nov. 1.
Sporting News is tracking results and highlights from the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Follow for updates from Game 1 of Celtics vs. Pacers.
Celtics vs. Pacers score
1Q2Q3Q4QOTFPacers31332924—-Celtics34303023—-
Celtics vs. Pacers live score, results, highlights
(All times Eastern)
Overtime
10:49 p.m.: Tatum drives in for a layup to tie the game and he draws the and-1, which he makes to put Boston up 124-123 with 1:02 to play.
10:47 p.m.: The Pacers had several chances to score, but couldn’t get it done. However, Tatum commits a bad turnover and as Haliburton is preparing a 3, he’s fouled by White. Haliburton makes all three at the line to put the Pacers up 123-121 with 1:30 in overtime.
10:44 p.m.: Brown drives in and makes a layup, and after a Horford block on the other end, Nesmith is called for a shooting foul on Tatum. Tatum makes both free throws to give Boston the 121-120 lead with 2:19 to play.
10:42 p.m.: After more than a minute of scoreless basketball, Holiday is called for a foul. On the in-bounds, Haliburton splashes down a 27-footer to put the Pacers up by three.
End of fourth quarter: Pacers 117, Celtics 117
10:37 p.m.: Haliburton misses a Hail Mary 3, and this game is headed to overtime.
10:36 p.m.: Brown catches the in-bound, shakes the defender and drains the corner 3 with six seconds on the clock to tie the game. Pacers call a timeout.
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
10:34 p.m.: Some uncertainty on the in-bounds after the ball goes out of bounds. Officials rule it is Celtics ball with 8.1 seconds left, and Boston calls a timeout down by three.
10:32 p.m.: Huge misses by White and Tatum as the Pacers recover the defensive rebound with 10 seconds left. Pacers will have possession leading by three with seconds left to play.
Pacers 117, Celtics 114
10:30 p.m.: Brown makes both free throws, but Nembhard responds with a quick jumper to push Indiana’s lead back up to three. Celtics use a timeout with 39 seconds to play.
10:29 p.m.: The challenge is unsuccessful, costing the Pacers a timeout. Brown will make two free throws at the other end.
10:27 p.m.: Loose ball foul called on Siakam with 57.1 seconds left, giving the Celtics the ball. Pacers challenge the call, a pivotal one with under a minute left and the Pacers leading by three.
10:24 p.m.: Crushing blow to the Celtics fans in attendance as after a Brown missed 3, Nembhard makes a jumper to push the Pacers’ lead to 115-110 with 1:57 to play.
Pacers 108, Celtics 104
10:16 p.m.: With 5:34 left, Turner drains a game-tying 3-pointer. The next possession, the Celtics had several opportunities to re-take the lead, but the Pacers come away with it. Siakam makes a 17-foot jumper and after a Tatum turnover, Siakam slams a dunk to make it 108-104 with 4:33, drawing a timeout from Boston.
PASCAL SIAKAM:
Hits the jumper.
Comes up with the steal.
Punches it on the other end.
Pacers take a 4-point lead with under 5 minutes to play in Game 1 on ESPN 🍿#NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/OPH1S6ir9J
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
10:09 p.m.: Celtics use a full timeout as Pacers go on a 6-2 lead to make it a 102-101 contest.
10:06 p.m.: Pacers and Celtics trading the lead on mid-range shots from Siakam and Tatum to start the fourth quarter. Tatum then adds to the lead on another close-range shot to push the Boston advantage to three with less than 10 to play.
End of third quarter: Celtics 94, Pacers 93
9:59 p.m.: T.J. McConnell makes a jumper to bring the game back to four points and before the end of the quarter, Sam Hauser is called for a moving screen, which appeared to injure McConnell who then left the game. Then again before the end of the frame, Haliburton drains a 3-pointer after it banks in, this one making it a one-point game going to the final quarter.
HALIBURTON AGAIN AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/yDLE3FEMyc
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 22, 2024
Celtics 92, Pacers 81
9:51 p.m.: A dunk from Siakam draws a timeout by the Celtics, but this game is still trending in the wrong direction for the Pacers, who are struggling to contain Tatum or Holiday.
Celtics 86, Pacers 75
9:44 p.m.: Standout defensive effort by Brown as he blocks a 3-pointer from Nesmith then hustles to smack the ball back at Nesmith to force the turnover on the Pacers. Two possessions later, Tatum makes a layup and draws a shooting foul.
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
Pacers haven’t scored in 3:24 of game time and Celtics have gone on a 12-0 run, their second such run of the game. Tatum will have a chance to add to that after the Pacers timeout.
Celtics 79, Pacers 75
9:35 p.m.: Pacers and Celtics keep exchanging the lead, with the Pacers re-taking it on a dunk from Siakam and the Celtics taking it right back on a shot from Tatum. The Boston star then makes one of two free throws, and after a missed 3-point attempt from Siakam, Haliburton is called for a foul on Holiday. Holiday makes both attempts from the line to push the Boston advantage to 79-75.
Celtics 71, Pacers 69
9:27 p.m.: Haliburton picks up a layup and he gives the Pacers their first lead of the game to start the third quarter. Just over a minute later, he shoots a 3 from the wing to push the lead to five.
But on three straight possessions, the Celtics get points from Horford, Brown and Tatum to regain the lead with 9:53 left, and Indiana calls a timeout.
End of second quarter: Pacers 64, Celtics 64
9:11 p.m.: Derrick White misses a 28-foot 3-pointer, then tries again from the top of the key from 25 feet out and is good to push the Boston lead up to 64-61. But with just over a second left, Haliburton splashes in a logo 3 from 35 feet to tie the game.
LOGO HALIBURTON pic.twitter.com/EC1TgOElfX
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 22, 2024
Celtics 59, Pacers 57
9:06 p.m.: Holiday comes off the bench out of the timeout and immediately drains a 3, but the Pacers go on a bit of a mini-run with Siakam putting in a put-back shot and Haliburton following it up with his second 3-pointer of the day after deking out Pritchard on the wing.
Following a Kornet slam, Andrew Nembhard responds with another 3 from the left to make it a two-point game. Siakam then keeps the ball alive at the baseline and dishes it to Aaron Nesmith, who slams a dunk to tie the game. Brown gives the Celtics the lead right back on the next possession at 59-57.
Celtics 52, Pacers 47
9 p.m.: Celtics using a timeout with 4:58 to play in the half. Turner sank a 27-foot 3-pointer as he moves up to 18 points, which leads all players. Tatum has had some turnover issues as he’s coughed it up twice in the past three minutes of game time.
8:58 p.m.: Tatum spins past Toppin and drives to the rim for the dunk and gets fouled on the way up. He then sinks the and-1.
On the other end, Turner keeps his hot hand going, following up a 3-pointer with a dunk to move his point total up to 15. And the dunking contest continues as Luke Kornet picks one up of his own.
Celtics 47, Pacers 37
8:50 p.m.: Huge one-handed jam by Myles Turner to cut into Boston’s lead at 43-37. But the Celtics respond with back-to-back baskets from Brown and Jrue Holiday, and the Pacers use their third timeout.
Myles Turner down the lane with AUTHORITY 😤 pic.twitter.com/a8u9AfsS8R
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2024
8:46 p.m.: Payton Prichard already has both of Boston’s baskets in the second quarter, starting with a 3-pointer then making a pullup jumper from nine feet out to push the Boston lead to 39-33.
End of first quarter: Celtics 34, Pacers 31
8:39 p.m.: Obi Toppin ends the first quarter with a steal, a 3-pointer then a layup with 19 seconds left to make it a three-point game at the end of the first quarter. He’s already up to 11 points, while Brown leads the Celtics with 10.
Celtics still holding a 34-31 lead, but Indiana’s offense has quickly woken up, and htat has come despite Haliburton going just 1-for-2.
Celtics 29, Pacers 20
8:34 p.m.: Pacers have already used two timeouts, the latest coming after a floater by Brown. After starting the game 0-for-6 from the field, Indiana has since gone 8-for-12. But Boston is shooting 12-for-20 and has only one turnover to Indiana’s three.
8:28 p.m.: Pacers come out of the timeout with some momentum, going on a 7-2 run to make it a 14-7 game. Jayson Tatum drove in for a layup, then Tyrese Haliburton is left wide open for an easy 3-pointer from 26 feet out to make it a 10-16 game.
Pacers showing quickly how easy it is for that offense to heat up.
Celtics 12, Pacers 0
8:21 p.m.: Just a brutal start for Indiana. Pacers are 0-for-5 with a pair of turnovers, and after a Horford 3-pointer, the Celtics are up 12-0 while shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
8:17 p.m.: The call is overturned, so no basket for the Pacers. Give Horford a block early on Siakam.
8:15 p.m.: Not an ideal start for the Pacers, who turn the ball over right away leading to a Jaylen Brown dunk. Pascal Siakam’s shot on the other end is credited as goaltending by Al Horford, but Joe Mazzulla challenges right away. Looks like a good block.
Exciting start to the Eastern Conference Finals 🍿
Tatum comes up with the steal… Brown hammers it home!
Game 1 is underway on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qqTizsKNNM
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
Pregame
8:13 p.m.: Just about time to get this Game 1 underway.
7:39 p.m.: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Kristaps Porzingis will be out both Game 1 and 2 in Boston, but there is a chance he could return in time for Game 4, which would be in Indiana.
7:20 p.m.: Key players getting ready ahead of tonight’s game.
Tyrese Haliburton getting ready for Game 1 of the ECF 👀 pic.twitter.com/u8yfwDrBZd
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 21, 2024
The Jays are getting locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/eyM62WoBZC
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 21, 2024
6:57 p.m.: Another quarterback is pulling for a different squad. 49ers QB Brock Purdy is rooting for the Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton. Both Purdy and Haliburton spent their college days at Iowa State from 2018-20, though Purdy stayed through 2021.
Brock Purdy is rooting for his friend Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA playoffs 👏 pic.twitter.com/ta4J5FZYj7
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 21, 2024
6:50 p.m.: The latest franchise quarterback for the Patriots is in the house, with Drake Maye sitting courtside for the Celtics’ playoff game tonight.
Drake Maye getting the full Boston experience and sitting courtside for Celtics vs. Pacers ☘️ 🌆 pic.twitter.com/hlK2XrKbkF
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 21, 2024
Celtics vs. Pacers start time
Date: Tuesday, May 21Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Celtics and Pacers will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 21, with the game slated to be played at TD Garden in Boston.
How to watch Celtics vs. Pacers
TV channel: ESPN/ESPN2Live stream: Sling
The Celtics vs. Pacers matchup will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2 in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada. U.S. viewers can also stream the game on Sling.
Sling is the home for sports fans, offering various channels. You can always cheer for your favorite teams on channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.
Celtics vs. Pacers odds for Game 1
Here are the latest Celtics-Pacers odds for Game 1, courtesy of BetMGM an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.
Boston is favored by 10.5 points and is -450 against the moneyline. A -450 moneyline would mean a $100 bet would pay out $122.22.
Series tied 0-0CelticsPacersSpread-10.5+10.5Moneyline-450+350O/U totalO 222.5 (-110)U 222.5 (-110)
Check out BetMG to see the latest NBA Playoff odds for every series including updated odds to win the NBA Finals.
Celtics vs. Pacers schedule, scores, results
GameDateSiteTime (ET)TV Channel/Live stream1May 21Boston8 p.m.ESPN, Sling2May 23Boston8 p.m.ESPN, Sling3May 25Indianapolis8:30 p.m.ABC, Sling4May 27Indianapolis8 p.m.ESPN, Sling5*May 29Boston8 p.m.ESPN, Sling6*May 31Indianapolis8 p.m.ESPN, Sling7*June 2Boston8 p.m.ESPN, Sling
* – If necessary
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