Celtics Comeback From 18-PT Deficit To WIN GAME 3! 👏 | May 25, 2024

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The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers, 114-111 after closing the game on a 13-2 run in the final two and a half minutes, to take a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists while Jaylen Brown added 24 points and 3 assists. Al Horford added 23 points and 5 rebounds while going 7-12 from distance, setting a new Playoff career-high in the process.
Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with a Playoff career-high 32 points, along with 9 assists and 4 rebounds while T.J. McConnell (23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists), Pascal Siakam (22 points, 6 assists), and Myles Turner (22 points, 10 rebounds) totaled 67 points for Indiana.
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will take place on Monday, May 27 (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2).
Game/Series Notes
• With tonight’s performance, Jayson Tatum has now surpassed 2,500+ PTS, 500+ AST, and 250+ 3PM in his Playoff career. Tatum is the second-fastest player to reach those totals in terms of games played in NBA history. Only Stephen Curry reached those marks in less games:
o Stephen Curry (97 games)
o Jayson Tatum (107 games)
o James Harden (112 games)
o Kevin Durant (127 games)
• Indiana’s Pascal Siakam has now scored 20 or more points in six consecutive Playoff games; he joins Reggie Miller (3x) and Paul George (2x) as the only players in franchise history to have such a streak.
• The Pacers had four players with 20 or more points in tonight’s game (Nembhard, McConnell, Siakam, and Turner) v the Celtics, marking just the second time in their franchise history they did this in the Playoffs. The other instance came on May 5, 1991, in Game 5 of the First Round, also against the Boston Celtics, which they lost 124-121.
o Reggie Miller, Chuck Person, Detlef Schrempf, and Micheal Williams were the four Pacers to score 20+.

[@NickMachado]

Tatum with two behind the back passes to horford for wide open 3s is wild.

[@Robin-xt7yo]

Man that was a sexy move by JT. He's got eyes in the back of his head!

[@jayceltics9345]

As a Celtics fan, what I love most about this clip is how after the Pacers final shot missed, instead of celebrating, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White immediately got to talking about how Nesmith got open. Thats a team that has its eyes on the prize. They weren't going nuts celebrating. They were saying 'yoooo how did he get that good a look? Thats on us.'

[@MrSwaggernaut83]

Valid, haha they cut to Tatum who's getting ready to get hype and then he turns and sees they're serious and he calms down lool

[@BeneGIB09]

They've grown so much in the last 2 years . Got my hopes up high this year might be the year. 5 more wins!

[@hdttyson]

That Pacers final play was incredible.

[@geraldgabad1373]

That Behind The Back Is Incredible.

[@abp1400]

the balls to do that...

[@brainwave1397]

Bro and no one said shit live!!!

[@travisrochelle4499]

Ayo

[@blackjesus6433]

⏸️ 🙏🏾

[@Stel298]

Pause…

[@CaptureKing247]

Boston Celtics management laughing at the Bucks for gifting them Holiday 😂

[@bapexcarti3]

I guess Giannis not injured...

[@joashsamsung8475]

Correct

[@drich008]

@@bapexcarti3not even about that, just the fact that they gave up a part of their core. Even with Giannis healthy they’ve had to work a lot harder this year without Jrue, bucks defense was dog shit most of the year

[@loona4evaurstar129]

Blazers

[@gabepizza]

especially with even Lillard missing 2 of the 6 playoff games

[@johnromeomalasarte]

7 threes from Al Horford 🤯

[@Lokocastell]

MVP

[@Ricardo_24]

I love this team after trailing by 18 they found a way to win the game and they played good basketball down the stretch 🔥🔥

[@Katherine-hg8rb]

I'm a celtic fan,but about their comeback. They never should have been down 18, one of the biggest problems with them is that they have trouble playing 48 minutes. They get lazy or disinterested or whatever. It looks like they will go on to the finals, and if they do, they will have to play 48 minutes against luka kyrie and lively. The maverick s are deeper partly because the coach didn't give some talented players a chance to develop

[@TheJuju5566]

@@Katherine-hg8rbyou cant control a team shooting over 65% for an entire half, they weathered the storm and came back in won.

[@Musika809]

@@Katherine-hg8rb Because they are the only team with the delusional expectations of playing perfect every game. Give me a break people. What this new generation has come to? 😑😵‍💫🥷☘️

[@Katherine-hg8rb]

@Musika809 maybe you are right, I do expect them to be good every game.. from your comment I take it your an older person. My grandpa always talks about lary bird and the 80 celtics. We're they really that good and do you think they could compete today

[@Ricardo_24]

@@Katherine-hg8rb yeah I wasn’t even born that year lol 😂hopefully it’s banner 18 this year 🥲 cause I been a Boston fan since 2013

[@Mist_R]

Every Boston starter made clutch plays and locked in on defense. We love to see that! 🍀 THIS IS CELTICS BASKETBALL 🍀 Al's blocks and 3s White's defense and 3 JB's dunk Jrue's steal and baskets in the paint JT's 3 and pass to Al for a big 3

[@bapexcarti3]

Yall had easy injured schedules mavs will teach u a lesson with a vet finals winner

[@kennethandjansyn]

​@@bapexcarti3yeah mavs 0-2 against Celtics hahaa

[@Chickennuggest467]

@@bapexcarti3mavs lost by 30

[@Mist_R]

@@bapexcarti3 🤡

[@officially_jr]

Best post season Dub by far from the C's🍀

[@Jason-sp8xz]

Two 18+ comebacks in back to back conference finals game is crazy

[@BleepyBloopy772]

On the road…..

[@Memebrain777]

Neither the wolves or the pacers have a “guy” to close the game

[@stuffstoconsider3516]

@@Memebrain777 Great point!!!

[@drich008]

@@Memebrain777Ant is a good closer, just having a shitty stretch of basketball at the wrong time

[@HybridVideos121]

Vs an Indiana team without their star player that only made it here because giannis & lillard are injured

[@rsoxhub]

Tatum’s btbs to Al Horford: 1:35 and 2:59

[@dentonyoung4314]

What an incredible series of plays by the Celtics down the stretch. The behind the back pass was huge.

[@ryanjenkins8789]

From the JB Throw down, to JT’s behind the back, Big AL with 7 3’s and JRUE with the steal hell of a fight

[@yomayo294]

Jrue once again with his elite defense!

[@blackout2430]

And an elite hypocrite. Only an elite hypocrite would wear a BLM shirt, but then have a whyte wife 😂 can’t stand that overrated O.J. Simpson wannabe

[@JamesThornhill-zv2uf]

Boston deserves to win that Tatum hot take best play in the league and jrue holiday the best point guard defender

[@NickMachado]

LFG boys!!!! Finals are one game away. If we get KP back, celtics have a real chance at banner 18.

[@halamadridpatriotsnationgo1057]

the pacers decided to become the atlanta falcons of the nba in the final 6 mins of the game 3!

[@connorhausmann9556]

After doing so in the last 30 seconds of game 1 as well

[@jca_]

After they already decided to become the Seattle Seahawks in game 1

[@martinleavitt6094]

🤟😂🤙yowsa!!

[@deflategate1297]

Celtics are the Patriots how fitting

[@annecornine8469]

Amazing finish...so proud of the Celtics!! ❤

[@Colin_1977]

Celtics have some real nice role players and chemistry to go along with Tatum and Brown.

[@anasshahid224]

Incredible comeback! Celtics on fire 🔥

[@9thcup361]

I see Cwebb in Tatum. Tatum passing ability has improved. Webb was a great all around player he was so much fun to watch.

[@scatman8403]

Totally! The behind the back pass from Tatum to Horford!!! One of the best passes I’ve ever seen in a moment like that. Go C’s! 🚢

[@KipArmadillo]

My takeaway after the final shot, and the C's had won, is Brown and White immediately discussing who should have been covering Nesmith. No immediate celebration. All business.

[@BIG-BlueNation8569]

Boston made the best moves in last two yrs. Holiday is fearless and plays hard on both ends. He should never have to buy a drink in Milwaukee. His game5 performance looked like a Oscar Robertson stat line. *5 steals 2blocks 6 rebounds 13 assist with 27 points.

[@M4PAT]

Sucks for pacers when you finally play a team not FULL of injuries 🤣🤣🤣

[@b47ance34]

Big AL is the goat

[@railenherman6482]

If you’re a Pacers fan like me, then you just knew we were going to give up that lead.

[@GreekSneakCollector]

The most valuable transfer of the Celtics the last decade!

[@harrismust2851]

Nembhard lost his balance when he tried to bump Jrue. Confirmed not a foul by Jrue

[@rescuehelly271]

Holiday won the game by last scoring then solid defense.

[@capbruhcorn]

The way teams blow leads now is comical. Almost identical to the Wolves/Mavs game 2.

[@Josizzle]

That last play by the Pacers was taken straight out of Madden 😂 🏈

[@user-st9bn2rb1r]

Rick Carlisle pulling his plays out of madden✅ Rick Carlisle running normal basketball plays❌

[@vvvawdad1767]

@@user-st9bn2rb1rey man it was a pretty good play

[@MG-zh6of]

Rick Carlisle: Our team is down by 13? Okay. Pull our starters early in the 4th.

[@deionhouston9303]

As a Celtics fan, their coach is a big part of the reason they’re not up 2-1 right now.

[@bustorobusto6316]

The vajayjay bros get it done! ☘️

[@BeneGIB09]

Remember when everyone in the media and not in boston was talking all that disrespect about tatum and the rest of the celtics , just the other day? They dont need your flowers now, just shut up and watch them take the chip back to boston. 😤

[@francescospinelli7806]

fantastico 🎉

[@tom11zz884]

Pacers and Timberwolves are done.

[@nsp74]

jayson tatum puts it in!

[@kennyblackbird5674]

I can't give it up to the Cs because I'm a Knicks fan but thank you Cs , sweep dem suckas!!

[@muinfaH_ehT]

Pacers got outpaced ngl

[@prixalternative4201]

It's Celtics game

[@alvarovillaverdecastrillo9769]

Jrue!

[@soolthegreat1581]

Was Dame really an upgrade to Jrue? Smfh

[@LeonardoFerreira-gc5jr]

3:06

[@yang1212]

Pacers really choked all 3 games huh

[@friendrichomana655]

never say die

[@arunbanotra2932]

2:26 remaining and boston were down 8 points how the hell indiana cant win this game ....

[@TobyKBTY]

I dont even like Boston, but send the Pacers to Cancun 😂

[@jamiljohnson9766]

Honestly, it should be impressed with Celtics or dispointed by the Pacers. You are up 18 points, only missing one star player 😅

[@Kaysubi5]

Only 18

[@shreyway13]

classic Celtics hater

[@TheMissingDislikeButton]

No Diddy

[@NickMachado]

Dudes name is kyrie and lebron. You can't make this shit up lmaoo

[@Kaysubi5]

@@shreyway13 nah , I think they can win it all But they shouldn’t ever be down to the pacers

[@Sosodefkid]

@@Kaysubi5and Lebron shouldn’t be 4-10 in the finals but here we are

[@wizzycapone]

Buma55 Pacers, thats all ima say... and JT hasnt woken up cause theres no comp😴

[@oscarmelgar4164]

Pacers are an overrated team ! They struggle with a depleted Knicks team.., this is no surprise.

[@ybpfn]

A lot of travels fouls charges and no call for Celtics so no surpise

[@Weezyfan0306]

Imagine blowing a 20 point lead at home in a must win game

[@matthewvaughan8192]

Are you actually delusional? Coming from Tyrese Traveliburton's team? You were GIFTED this game on a platter out of mercy by the refs all game, and you still blew it

[@OneRich69]

🧹

[@bonniface-qd9ux]

How silly that pacers coach didn't call a timeout when you could that indiana had no clue what to do during last four seconds of the game. What a joke. The NBA has sold out and McConnell needs to get another job because his defense makes it look so obvious. I wonder what the point spread was in this game? I'm assuming that Indiana was a three point underdog.

[@PocketsandsBreifcase]

The spread was Boston by 7.5, stupid

[@brockfalzarano5756]

How do you choke 2 easy wins in 3 games and get pounded in the other😂 pacers handing celtics another finals appearance

[@conroexlexx8267]

Pacers choked :/

[@RichardLionheart-f7f]

Pacers choked Games 1 & 3 these salty crying fans are just bitter to admit but blames the refs

[@rselby0654]

Holiday totally fouled at the end. You hate to see it end like that.

[@twiz.-5760]

huh?

[@_anansi2146]

Where? That's a strip

[@andrewashford5617]

Who cares the refs never gunna call a fair game, most predictable ending everytime! Gets mauled with 40 seconds left and of course no foul called but u already knew no matter what the refs would call a foul for Boston 🤦🏽

[@rselby0654]

@@_anansi2146 he was hammered. You can’t strip unless it’s all ball. Just look at the replay. Needless to say it’s over and the Celtics won 🤷

[@ghale6632]

@@andrewashford5617 poor baby 😢

[@ryno-tm1we]

A team like Phoenix would have easily swept their way into the Finals if they had the same schedule Boston has had this postseason.

[@_anansi2146]

But that didn't happened did it?

[@killa_2007]

they were projected to be in the nba finals at the start of the szn werent they? stop making excuses. they got swept by a young and defensive minded minnesota team, and didnt play up to the competition. simple as that.

[@BillyBob-ti2fz]

The same suns that couldn’t even win a single game against the young T wolves? Such a 🤡 comments

[@illusorytrutheffect]

Delusional take, you just don’t know basketball and only think good teams are teams that have your favorite players in them. Pacers are a SOLID ass team

[@올해는내꺼야]

4 : 0 Wolves suns 😂😂😂

[@Truthhurtz41]

Wow you beat Miami with no Jimmy Butler and the other guy can't think of his name you beat Cleveland without Donovan Mitchell now you beat Indiana without Tyler and then you going to go to the finals and play Dallas Mavericks will a injured Luca

[@julian2392]

Yes, it's definitely the Celtics fault that they were all injured 🤡

[@BillyBob-ti2fz]

Yeah it’s not like the Celtics aren’t missing their starting center who’s one of their best players. They beat a better Heat team back in 2022 with butler with a worse Celtics team and they were better team than Cleveland in every aspect. Save the excuses crybaby

[@illusorytrutheffect]

Luka is just always injured huh?🤣 god that narrative is so strange to me..

[@Truthhurtz41]

@BillyBob-ti2fz what the hell are you talking about they have the starting center who started for them The Last 5 Years al horton no excuses is facts everybody says it they have the easiest road to the finals and they probably still going to lose to an injured Mavericks team you just another racist boston fan I don't know why black players play for racist city in america

[@jasonmoukala8909]

@@BillyBob-ti2fzcasual

[@miguelrosales3930]

Jrue Holiday's shoes the real mvp

[@MrYuu0522]

exactly

[@blackout2430]

Can’t stand that O.J. Simpson wannabe hypocrite. Dude wears a BLM shirt but look at who his wife is😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 you couldn’t write this in Hollywood with how hypocritical this guy is. Can’t wait for him to get cooked by Kyrie Irving and embarrassed, so I can stop hearing about how good of a defender he is. Most overrated player in the NBA next to Brunson’s OJ wannabe self as well.

[@shreyway13]

Celtics: come back from down 18 Kendrick Perkins: Tatum should've gotten 200😂

[@Nubes-jq9ef]

Should Tatum do more?

[@Nubes-jq9ef]

And shit like that

[@mike91mdk45]

You already know lol

[@NickMachado]

I think perk caught the rfk brain worm

[@bentep0511]

Perkins alienating the only fanbase that likes him is certainly a choice.

[@geekdiggy]

i'm pleased with the defensive plays especially from al horford

[@eyeme7631]

Mavs vs boston in the finals....stamp it...

[@d-p_]

Well Celtics are a lock for the Finals. Ain’t no way Indiana winning four in a row.

[@andrewashford5617]

Knicks vs pacers would have been a fcccccn movie compared to this bs! Looks like it’s bout to be the Mavs and Celtics cheating their ways to the finals🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑

[@fishifyjenkins1379]

@@andrewashford5617If both teams are healthy its Celtics in 5 against new york😂

[@martinleavitt6094]

Pasers have a 0-154 chance to reverse that 0-154 trend 🫣

[@geraldgabad1373]

Finally Tatum is becoming Mamba Mode Again.

[@matthewdowling6549]

36-10-8. Turning back into JAYSON TATUM

[@bapexcarti3]

Buddy is nowhere near kobe

[@MrgetRightwityou]

Don’t ever say that dumb shit again lol. Only 1 mamba and this mf is not him 😂

[@casualgamer4898]

@@bapexcarti3 if Tatum decided to be more selfish and play less team ball you'd be surprised by how much he could score

[@austin5019]

What an absolutely amazing comeback by the Celtics!!! One win away now from the NBA Finals!!!

[@johhnytest123]

What a steal by jrue

[@jackthezodiac6136]

18 point deficit comeback is literally exactly what the Mavericks just did lol. WCF curse again.

[@AshleyMichaud]

Celtics vs Mavs is going to be 🔥

[@mychchevelle72ss]

dang was hopin pacers would make it a longer series but it doesnt look like at at this point

[@Aftermxth-k9z]

Jayson Tatum 3:00 masterclass!!!!

[@camerone397]

This celts team has grit. I've never been more optimistic

[@Hydrozaft-k1g]

Al Horford da goat

[@loverboiadrii]

I was told the Celtics aren't exciting to watch

[@johnsudiro73]

Pacers have big opportunity to win game 1 and game 3, still can’t close it. Bye bye pacers

[@robinrondo]

👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Great win for the Celtics.

[@ftvalen]

LFG!!

[@vanessajazp6341]

Celtics bringing home another Finals championship this year!!

[@areebgsings3232]

You mean potentially

[@matthewvaughan8192]

@@areebgsings3232 He means ECF championship, which is pretty much a lock

[@user-st9bn2rb1r]

#banner 18

[@vanessajazp6341]

@@areebgsings3232 No. I mean seriously. As in, you can take that to the bank.

[@areebgsings3232]

@@vanessajazp6341 mavs in 7

[@eduardogutierrezalonso9762]

Holiday steals the baaaaall 😂😂😂

[@justinchin6291]

Pacers really need to work on their d for next year...

[@davidc.lalnelawma4776]

Awesome for them but why were they down by 18 pts to a Haliburtonless Pacers team? (Genuine question, didn't watch the game)

[@engr.kadooor09]

bad plays and poor defense in the first 3 half

[@Jondsmusic]

Offense, offense! In your face pacers!

[@peacesearcher4598]

Incredible comeback

[@j.l.howlett6843]

Jayson Tater

[@Che-jn9oi]

Pacers werent good enough. We all knew it. Not surprising at all. Middle of the pack team. Nothing more

[@judahtunes2245]

Pacers fans bubble guts tonight...

[@BamXBam97]

They really ran a rub route w McDermott and nesmith 😂

[@collinmartin2566]

Celtics: oh man we’re down by 18 we’re gonna lose! Pacers: not if we have anything to say about it!

[@bartholomewlyons]

Wow, all 3 games Pacers had it. Talk about choking. Crazy

[@Jerrbear617]

Game 1 and 3, sure. But not game 2.

[@shadowguy20004]

Pacers aint won since Tyrese put on the hoodie 😂 #CHOKEKARMA

[@engr.kadooor09]

probably that hoodie is foreshadowing to what will happen to them in games 1 and 3 while they are having the lead

[@pierluigimazzini5504]

Andiamo Celticsssss

[@UtdTill1Die902]

We want Sweep!

[@Crispy.Chalklit]

This could've been an easy 2-1 series for the Pacers, but the choke job is real

[@terencew7716]

Celtics in 5

[@areebgsings3232]

4 at this rate

[@Cavlo]

no one is impressed by the celtics its literally a shoo-in ECF 🤣

[@Kzmotivo]

Such a weak east. The west will take it. 😂😂😂😂

[@natedawg1007]

Pacers coach did more crying than coaching wth