INDIANAPOLIS — When Boston Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell learn off Jaylen Brown‘s identify because the winner of the Larry Chicken Trophy as Japanese Convention finals MVP, nobody appeared extra shocked than Brown himself.
“I wasn’t anticipating it in any respect,” Brown would say later, with the trophy sitting subsequent to him on the podium after Boston’s series-ending 105-102 Recreation 4 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night time, earlier than including with a broad smile, “I do not by no means win s—.”
However it was Brown who made a pair of performs within the last 65 seconds — first blocking Andrew Nembhard‘s drive to the rim, then entering into the lane and kicking the ball out to Derrick White for what grew to become the game-winning 3-pointer with 41 seconds to go, a shot that put Boston forward for the primary time because the opening possession of the second half — that allowed the Celtics to flee from this sequence with a sweep and return to the NBA Finals for a second time in three years.
“I am simply completely happy that we received,” Brown continued. “And provides credit score to Indiana, they performed us robust. I do know folks assume that Indiana wasn’t staff or regardless of the case could also be, however I assumed they have been as robust as anyone we performed all season. They have been bodily, they have been quick, they put lots of strain on us. So shout out to them, and respect to them.”
The Pacers, taking part in for a second straight recreation with out All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, definitely gave Boston all it might deal with. After main the Celtics by as many as 18 factors within the second half of Saturday night time’s Recreation 3 earlier than Boston stormed again and received within the dying seconds, Indiana took the lead within the second half Monday on a Myles Turner 3-pointer to open the third quarter and by no means trailed once more till White’s nook 3 fell.
At that time, Nembhard — who was sensible for a second straight recreation as Haliburton’s alternative, going for twenty-four factors and 10 assists in 38 minutes — missed a game-tying triple of his personal. Then, after Jayson Tatum — who completed with 26 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists — missed a game-sealing 3 on the different finish, Jrue Holiday wolfed up the offensive rebound for Boston, permitting time to run out and the Celtics to have fun.
“It is particular,” Tatum mentioned of advancing to the NBA Finals for the second time in his profession. “Though we have been there earlier than, most of us have, you do not take it without any consideration. We have been excited.
“It was a hell of a staff we simply performed, they made us earn each single recreation and we’re extraordinarily grateful to maneuver on to the Finals.”
It was a becoming victory for the Celtics, one which noticed a number of gamers take their turns taking part in an element. Brown completed with 29 factors and 6 rebounds, together with his second-half scoring barrage serving to maintain Boston within the recreation and finally pull out the win. Tatum had a bucket and grabbed three defensive rebounds late after selecting up his fifth foul halfway by way of the fourth.
After which there was White who, regardless of going 1-for-8 to start the sport from 3, stepped up and hit the sport’s largest shot, to associate with 5 steals and three blocks.
“Simply house and simply belief that JB goes to make the fitting play like he has this whole yr,” mentioned White, when requested what he was pondering as Brown acquired into the lane. “I acquired look and simply needed to remain within the shot and knock it down.
“Clearly, I missed a couple of in a row however they have been beginning to really feel just a little higher, so simply stayed assured and was in a position to make one.”
For the Pacers, it was yet one more recreation that can go away them with regrets over how this sequence performed out. After taking a 9-point lead on a Nembhard and-1 layup within the fourth quarter, T.J. McConnell missed a very uncovered layup with 8:35 remaining that may’ve pushed Indiana’s result in double digits.
As a substitute, Boston closed the sport with a 20-8 run to finish the sweep, marking the third time in 4 video games Boston pulled out a recreation it had trailed within the fourth quarter.
“Give them credit score for the stuff they pulled off on the finish of the final two video games,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “They merely made extra performs. They blocked pictures. They acquired offensive rebounds. They made key pictures.”
Consequently, the Celtics — who had superior to 5 Japanese Convention finals in seven years earlier than this one, reaching the NBA Finals simply as soon as — at the moment are again within the league’s championship spherical but once more. And that’s partly due to the expansion of Brown and Tatum, their two stars who’ve seen this staff undergo so many tough moments within the playoffs over the previous a number of years, solely to place collectively a 12-2 run by way of the East that can have this staff as recent and prepared for the Finals because it presumably might be.
“We really feel like we’re a unique staff than we have been final yr and the yr earlier than that,” Brown mentioned. “I do know all people desires to proceed to sort of pigeonhole us to what was occurring previously however we have had a unique staff each single yr, totally different coaches, we have had like three coaches within the final 5 years. And nonetheless folks need to make it look like it is the identical, it is the identical, it is the identical.
“Time has passed by, expertise has been gained and I believe we’re able to put our greatest foot ahead.”