Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Boston Shows Heart of Champions; Rallies to Beat Indiana, 114-111


PhilBoxing.com




Indiana knew it had to win game 3 at home to not fall into a hole no team had crawled out from. So the Pacers demonstrated a sense of urgency that allowed them to race to double digit leads until the opening of the final quarter of the game.

But such sense of urgency never reckoned Boston's hearts of champion that allowed the Celtics to claw their way from behind to win, 114-111 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Pacers.

Such indomitable spirit was characterized by Jrue Holiday who scored five points plus a steal in the last 40 seconds to seal the comeback win from a 111-109 deficit.

Utilizing its ceiling and length advantage to score mostly in the paint complemented by outside sniping, Indiana in many occasions had threatened to break the game open, posting its largest lead, 84-66 midway through the third period.

Instrumental in the surge were big men Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and Obi Toppin who were helped out by the shooting of Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnel and Aaron Nesmith.

The Pacers were even able to rotate in Doug McDermontt and Isiah Jackson to keep the pressure inside.

However, Boston kept on plugging in to keep the lead within reach for the remainder of the third quarter and early stages of the final 12 minutes.

Helping in keeping the Pacers’ leads manageable was the Celtics defense that produced a team high 12 blocks with Al Horford and Jason Tatum frustrating their big men in and around the paint while Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Derreck White bothering the three points shooters.

Boston likewise had 7 steals and forced 11 possession changes that helped in cutting into the Pacers lead.

The Celtics also fielded Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett, both 6-7 to support Horford and somehow neutralize Indiana's height advantage.

Boston managed to cut the 101-92 Pacers lead with still 4 minutes left through Horford, Holiday and Brown to 109-103.

Tatum hit a triple to make it 109-106. After Nembhard free throws made it 111-106, Horford banged a triple to make it 111-109.

Holiday scored on a layup with foul to boot from Siakam. Holiday hit the extra shot to give Boston the lead 112-111.

Holiday later pushed the Celtics farther, 114-111 with another trip to the free throw line with only 2 ticks left on desperation foul by Siakam. This after stealing the ball from Nembhard off a Tatum miss rebound.

Nesmith missed a last ditch triple at the buzzer.

Siakam and Nembhard who were looking like heroes earlier proved to be the game's goats for Indiana while Holiday who could not seem to get going at the start and had to be replaced many times, emerged as the hero for Boston. He typified Boston's heart of champions.

Tatum topped for Boston with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Brown scored 24 points, Horford made his presence felt with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Holiday
shoot 14 points, the last 5 in the last 40 seconds and White added 13 points.

On Indiana's side the loss wasted Nembhard's 32 points and McConnell's 23 points efforts. Likewise the 22 points each of Siakam and Turner.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.